The monarch’s latest portrait features a symbolic butterfly, an idea personally suggested by the King.

The first official portrait of King Charles since his Coronation has been unveiled at Buckingham Palace, showcasing the monarch in a striking new light. Painted by acclaimed artist Jonathan Yeo, the piece depicts the 75-year-old King in the uniform of the Welsh Guards, set against a bold red background.

The 8ft 6in by 6ft 6in painting includes a poignant touch, with a butterfly landing delicately on the King’s shoulder. This detail, which carries deep symbolic meaning, was actually the King’s own suggestion. Yeo, who has previously painted figures such as Sir David Attenborough and Malala Yousafzai, explained that the butterfly represents “metamorphosis and rebirth”—fitting for the King’s transformation since his Coronation in May.

Queen Camilla is reported to have been particularly taken with the portrait, praising it with a simple, “Yes, you’ve got him.” While it is unknown whether the King has seen the final version, he did approve the portrait during its earlier stages, noting his initial surprise at the vibrant colours, though he was reportedly smiling in approval.

Yeo shared his process, emphasising that his goal is to capture the essence of his subjects: “My interest is really in figuring out who someone is and trying to get that on a canvas.” The choice of the Welsh Guards uniform was also significant, reflecting the King’s longstanding role as Regimental Colonel of the Welsh Guards, a position he has held since 1975.

The artist admitted to feeling a sense of pressure before taking on the monumental task of painting the monarch, joking about the potential repercussions of a ‘bad’ portrait. Still, both the King and Queen are believed to be satisfied with the final result, which also marks an important artistic and personal milestone for the royal family.