KING Charles has unveiled his first official portrait since his coronation at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
The painting is by Jonathan Yeo, known for his portraits of Paris Hilton, Grayson Perry and Cara Delevingne.
Yeo was hired in 2020 to celebrate the then Prince of Wales’s 50th year as a member of The Drapers’ Company in 2022.
The portrait depicts His Majesty wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guards, of which he was appointed Colonel of the Regiment in 1975.
The size of the canvas – approximately 8 1/2 by 6 1/2 feet framed – was carefully considered to fit the architecture of Drapers’ Hall and the context of the paintings that will eventually hang alongside.
Jonathan Yeo has had four sessions with the King, starting when His Majesty was the Prince of Wales in June 2021 at Highgrove, and later at Clarence House.
The last session took place in November 2023 at Clarence House.
Yeo also worked from drawings and photographs he took of Her Majesty, allowing him to work on the portrait in his London studio between sessions.
Yeo said: “It was a privilege and a 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 began this project, His Majesty the King was still His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and, like the butterfly I 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 on any individual sitter’s face.
“In this case, my aim was also to reference the traditions of royal portraiture but in a way that reflected a 21st century Monarchy and, above all, to communicate the deep humanity of the subject.
“I am unimaginably grateful for the opportunity to capture such an extraordinary and unique person, especially at the historic moment of becoming king.”
Today, at Buckingham Palace, the King and Queen meet the Master of The Drapers’ Company, Tom Harris, and the Past Master, William Charnley.
Together, they will say a few words after the inauguration.
The portrait will be on public display for a month at the Philip Mold Gallery, in London, from May 16th to June 14th.
The work is due to be displayed at Drapers’ Hall from the end of August.
Others painted by Yeo include Doreen Lawrence, actors Nicole Kidman, Giancarlo Esposito, Dennis Hopper, Idris Elba and Sienna Miller, artists Damien Hirst and Grayson Perry, supermodel Cara Delevingne, as well as former world leaders Tony Blair, David Cameron, Helle Thorning- Schmidt and Juan Manuel Santos, .
He has also produced commissions for Prince Philip and Her Majesty Queen Camilla.
Official portrait photographs of King Charles were released following his coronation in May 2023.
The king, wearing the robes of his estate, is seen on his throne holding the dazzling orb in his left hand and the sovereign’s scepter with cross in his right.
King Charles is depicted wearing the Imperial State Crown, which he wore on the carriage ride from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace and when he waved to the crowd from the balcony.
The news comes after Charles had an emotional conversation about his cancer treatment with a veteran and spoke about his “loss of taste” side effect.
Her Majesty was at the Army Aviation Center in Middle Wallop, Hampshire, to appoint Prince William Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story