King Charles III Reveals His First Official Painted Portrait Post Coronation

King Charles III Reveals His 1st Painted Portrait

His Majesty King Charles III/MEGA

The first official painted portrait of King Charles III since his coronation was revealed at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, May 14.

The royal family shared a video on their official X account, stating, "Today, The King unveiled a new portrait by [artist Jonathan Yeo] at Buckingham Palace. The painting, commissioned by The Draper’s Company, is the first official portrait completed since His Majesty’s Coronation. It will be displayed at Draper’s Hall in London."

In the video, Charles, who is 75 years old, unveiled a striking red portrait by removing a black covering. He was standing next to Yeo, aged 53. The painting depicted the king in a Welsh Guards uniform, holding a sword with a butterfly perched on his shoulder.

Shortly after the video was posted, the royal family released a statement from Yeo on Instagram.

"It was an honor to be asked by The Drapers’ Company to paint a portrait of His Majesty The King," the British artist expressed. "I began this project when His Majesty was still known as His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. Similar to the butterfly I depicted hovering over his shoulder, this portrait has taken shape as his public role has evolved.

The artist shared, "My goal is always to capture the life experiences and humanity reflected in the face of each individual I paint. I believe I have achieved that in this portrait. It was a significant professional challenge to portray His Majesty The King, a figure with a unique role, but I found it immensely rewarding and enjoyable."

Yeo has experience creating portraits for the royal family. He painted Prince Philip in 2008 and Queen Camilla in 2014.

The portrait of Charles comes a year after he officially became the ruler of the United Kingdom and its Commonwealth nations.

King Charles III Reveals His 1st Painted Portrait

Artist Jonathan Yeo and King Charles III stand in front of the portrait of King Charles III Aaron Chown-WPA Pool/Getty Images

Charles and Camilla, 76, were both honored together. Camilla was officially declared the new queen, while Charles became the British monarch in September 2022 after the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Despite his new role, Charles faced challenges in his first year as king. In February, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer after a routine prostate procedure. The palace mentioned that the king would be taking a break from his public duties during this time.

An official statement announced that during The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was discovered. It was revealed that subsequent diagnostic tests have confirmed the presence of a form of cancer.

The statement further explained that His Majesty has now started a schedule of regular treatments. As advised by doctors, he will be postponing public-facing duties during this time. Despite this, His Majesty will still be carrying out State business and official paperwork as normal.

Princess Kate Middleton, who is married to Prince William since 2011, revealed her battle with cancer a month after. Charles, her father-in-law, sent his well-wishes before resuming his busy schedule in April.

In a statement from March, it was mentioned that Charles is proud of Kate for her bravery in speaking out about her cancer battle. He has been in close contact with her since they spent time together in the hospital. Both Charles and his wife will continue to offer their love and support to the entire family during this challenging period.

Editor's P/S:

The unveiling of King Charles III's first official portrait since his coronation marks a significant moment in British history. The striking portrait, created by renowned artist Jonathan Yeo, captures the essence of the monarch in his Welsh Guards uniform, a testament to his military service. The presence of a butterfly hovering over his shoulder adds a touch of symbolism, representing the ongoing transformation of the monarchy under his reign.

Yeo's choice to depict Charles in a uniform highlights the king's deep connection to the armed forces, a tradition that has been passed down through generations of the royal family. It also serves as a reminder of the king's commitment to his duties and responsibilities as head of state. The portrait is a fitting tribute to Charles's first year as king, a period marked by both challenges and milestones, including his coronation and the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.