Revealed: Queen Camilla's immediate reaction to seeing King Charles' portrait for the first time

Release time：2024-05-16 20:25:39 Source：Earth Encounters news portal

Queen Camilla praised King Charles' new portrait and its creator when she saw it for the first time before it's presentation at Buckingham Palace yesterday.

The painting, by renowned artist Jonathan Yeo, is the first official portrait of the King completed since his Coronation last May.

However, it was actually commissioned three years earlier than that to celebrate the then-Prince of Wales' 50 years as a member of The Drapers' Company.

It depicts His Majesty wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guards, of which he was made Regimental Colonel in 1975, while holding a sword as a butterfly lands on his shoulder.

The Queen is said to have looked at the painting and told Yeo: 'Yes, you've got him.'

Queen Camilla praised King Charles' new portrait and its creator Jonathan Yeo (seen talking to the Queen yesterday) when she saw it for the first time, commenting: 'Yes, you've got him'

The painting, which is the first official portrait of the King completed since his Coronation last May, was unveiled at Buckingham Palace yesterday

Yeo had four sittings with The King, beginning when His Majesty was Prince of Wales in June 2021, and ending in November 2023 at Clarence House when The Queen was in attendance to see the painting in its 'half-done state'

The work depicts His Majesty wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guards, of which he was made Regimental Colonel in 1975, while holding a sword as a butterfly lands on his shoulder

Yeo had four sittings with The King, beginning when His Majesty was Prince of Wales in June 2021 at Highgrove, and later at Clarence House.

The Queen appeared during the final sitting in November 2023, with the painting in its 'half-done state' and said the artist had captured the King well. 

Yeo also painted a portrait of Camilla in 2014, and one of Prince Philip in 2008.

He said: 'People often say is there a secret to doing a good portrait? And I say I don't know really. 

'Actually I think there is one, and that's having an interesting subject to start with. And you couldn't ask for a better one than this, other than Her Majesty.'

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As he gestured towards Camilla,  comment was greeted with much laughter by those gathered in the palace. 

The artist also spoke of the inclusion of the butterfly landing on the monarch's right shoulder, which is to echo Charles' 'metamorphosis' from Prince to King during the process - and the monarch joked that it was nice to know he was a chrysalis. 

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 canvas size - approximately 8.5ft by 6.5ft framed - was carefully considered to fit within the architecture of Drapers' Hall and the context of the paintings it will eventually hang alongside.

At Buckingham Palace, Charles and Queen Camilla were met by The Master of The Drapers' Company, Tom Harris and Past Master, William Charnley.  

Guests included other members of the Drapers' Company, students and staff from the Drapers' Academy, Welsh Guards and Yeo's family.

Charles stood at Buckingham Palace yesterday next to Yeo at the unveiling where the latter explained some of the creative decisions behind the painting

Yeo also painted a portrait of Camilla in 2014 (left), and one of Prince Philip in 2008 (right) 

The portrait will go on public display for a month at the Philip Mould Gallery in London, from this Thursday until June 14. Entry is free.

The artwork is expected to be displayed at Drapers' Hall from the end of August.

Yeo is one of the world's leading portrait artists whose subjects have included the industrial designer Sir Jony Ive, broadcaster Sir David Attenborough and activists Malala Yousafzai and Doreen Lawrence.

He has also produced portraits of actors Nicole Kidman, Giancarlo Esposito, Dennis Hopper, Idris Elba and Sienna Miller, artists Damien Hirst and Grayson Perry, model Cara Delevingne and former world leaders Tony Blair, David Cameron, Helle Thorning-Schmidt and Juan Manuel Santos. 

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