The first official portrait of King Charles since his Coronation has been unveiled at Buckingham Palace this afternoon.
His Majesty can be seen wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guards in the vibrant oil painting.
The vivid design - which measures 8ft 15in by 6ft 15in - is by artist Jonathan Yeo, who also painted Tony Blair, Sir David Attenborough and Malala Yousafzai.
The portrait was commissioned in 2020 to celebrate the then Prince of Wales’s 50 years as a member of The Drapers’ Company in 2022.
The first official portrait of King Charles since his Coronation has been unveiled at Buckingham Palace this afternoonPAYeo shared his artistic process behind a butterfly featured on the portrait, explaining that it echoes Charles's metamorphosis from Prince to King.
After the unveiling, Yeo said he would "love to take full credit for that" but it was "actually the subject’s idea".
Following his speech, the King joked: "It’s nice to know I was a chrysalis when you first met me," which was met with laughter.
The bright red colour - which was painted over much of the portrait - was used to give the work more of a "dynamic and contemporary feel", according to Yeo.
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Yeo said: "It was a privilege and pleasure to have been commissioned by The Drapers' Company to paint this portrait of His Majesty The King, the first to be unveiled since his Coronation.
"When I started this project, His Majesty The King was still His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, and much like the butterfly I've painted hovering over his shoulder, this portrait has evolved as the subject's role in our public life has transformed.
"I do my best to capture the life experiences etched into any individual sitter's face. In this case, my aim was also to make reference to the traditions of Royal portraiture but in a way that reflects a 21st Century Monarchy and, above all else, to communicate the subject's deep humanity.
"I’m unimaginably grateful for the opportunity to capture such an extraordinary and unique person, especially at the historic moment of becoming King."
The portrait was commissioned in 2020 to celebrate the then Prince of Wales’s 50 years as a member of The Drapers’ Company in 2022.
GettyThe King underwent a number of sittings with Yeo between June 2021 and November 2023 at both Highgrove and Clarence House.
Charles and Queen Camilla were joined by The Master of The Drapers’ Company - Tom Harris and Past Master, William Charnley - along with Jonathan Yeo who said a few words after His Majesty unveiled the portrait.
The portrait will go on public display for one month at the Philip Mould Gallery in London until June 14 where entry is free.
