The debut of King Charles’s inaugural portrait post-coronation is sparking a diverse array of reactions on social media.
Crafted by British artist Jonathan Yeo, the portrait stands at approximately 2.6 meters by two meters, portraying Charles amidst a backdrop of red tones, clad in the iconic red attire of the Welsh Guards military ensemble. Positioned just above his right shoulder is a delicate butterfly.
The grand revealing took place at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, with both King Charles and Queen Camilla in attendance, adding to the significance of the occasion.
“Cards on the table, I know very little about art. But having seen this new Jonathan Yeo portrait of King Charles in the flesh — and there is so much more depth and complexity to it in person — I like it,” Rebecca English, the royal editor for the Daily Mail in London, said on X.
Cards on the table, I know very little about art. But having seen this new Jonathan Yeo portrait of King Charles in the flesh – and there is so much more depth and complexity to it in person – I like it. I wonder what King George V and Queen Mary would have made of it though? pic.twitter.com/SzwcwqIDb1
— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) May 15, 2024
Others were less charitable in their take on the portrait
“And how much did this rather bizarre portrait of King Charles cost the British taxpayer?” James Melville said on X.
King Charles new portrait rings a bell… pic.twitter.com/mBImFbdtRi
— Lucie Fur (@Lucie_Fur99) May 14, 2024
Yeo initiated the creation of the artwork back in June 2021, during Charles’s tenure as the Prince of Wales.
However, the context shifted dramatically when Charles ascended to the throne following the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, in September 2022. With Charles’s coronation unfolding in May 2023, the portrait now symbolizes his reign as King.
“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,” Yeo said at Tuesday’s revealing.
Following its revealing at Buckingham Palace, the portrait will be showcased at London’s Philip Mould Gallery from May 16 to June 14. Subsequently, it will find a new home at Drapers’ Hall, where it will be displayed from the end of August onwards.
Commissioned in honor of Charles’s remarkable 50-year membership with the Drapers’ Company, the portrait commemorates his enduring connection with the organization.
Originally established as a trade group around 600 years ago, the Drapers’ Company has evolved into a prominent grant-giving institution.
