First Official Portrait of Charles III Unveiled in the UK

The first official portrait of British King Charles III since his coronation was unveiled at Buckingham Palace. The painting, rendered in oil on a 2.8 by 2.2-meter canvas, will be displayed at Drapers' Hall in London, as announced by The Royal Family on Twitter. The artist behind the masterpiece is Jonathan Yeo, known for his portraits of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and British broadcaster David Attenborough.

In the portrait, King Charles III is depicted in the uniform of the Welsh Guards, a title he received in 1975. The canvas, painted in vibrant shades of red, seamlessly blends the red of the uniform with the background, making the king's face even more pronounced. Additionally, a butterfly sits on the king's shoulder in the painting.

"In art history, the butterfly symbolizes metamorphosis and rebirth," explained Yeo, stating that he wanted the painting to be unique and break away from the past. The butterfly also symbolizes the king's interest in the environment.

Yeo began working on the portrait in June 2021 when Charles was still the Prince of Wales, conducting four sessions lasting about an hour each for the sittings.

BBC reports that the painting received positive feedback from both the king and his wife, Queen Consort Camilla. Camilla saw the artwork in its final stages and remarked that the artist captured the king well. Jonathan Yeo notes that the best judge of a portrait is someone who knows the person depicted, as they will instantly recognize familiar features.

"The king also saw the painting in its semifinished state. Initially, he was slightly surprised by the vivid colour, but overall, he seemed to smile approvingly," added Jonathan Yeo.

Earlier, The Gaze reported that Duchess of Edinburgh Sophie visited Ukraine for the first time since the full-scale Russian invasion. During her visit, she paid tribute to those who died in Bucha at the hands of Russian occupiers, spoke with victims of sexual violence and torture, listened to children's stories from forced deportation, and visited a bridge blown up to halt the advance of Russian forces towards Kyiv.

Duchess of Edinburgh also met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska, delivering a private message from King Charles and discussing support for victims of sexual violence during conflicts.