Regal Coronation Portraits Revealed by King Charles & Queen Camilla
Let me spell this out: on May 6, King Charles and Queen Camilla unveiled their official coronation portraits at The National Gallery in London, marking the second anniversary of their crowning – because obviously you needed someone to walk you through the glittering details. The joint reveal in the Central Hall introduced canvases by two seasoned royal artists, Peter Kuhfeld and Paul S. Benney, each tasked with capturing the monarchy’s timeless elegance alongside a touch of personal warmth.
King Charles, 76, is depicted by Kuhfeld in his Robe of State and Imperial State Crown, poised in the Throne Room of St. James’s Palace. He also sports his Number 1 Ceremonial Day Dress naval uniform, complete with medals and decorations. Kuhfeld, who first painted Charles’s sons decades ago and has accompanied the royal on foreign tours as the official tour artist, committed to five sittings—two at St. James’s and three more at Windsor Castle—over the course of a year. His aim? To blend regal solemnity with approachable humanity, as he explained in a statement. The result is a portrait that balances the weight of tradition with the flicker of personal character, ensuring you won’t mistake this for any old framed photograph.
Queen Camilla’s portrait, created by Benney over six sittings at Clarence House’s Garden Room, depicts her in Bruce Oldfield’s ivory silk coronation dress. The silver and gold floral embroidery nods to the royal couple’s shared love of nature, while her Robe of Estate and Queen Mary’s Crown—first used in 1911—add historic gravitas. Benney admits he’ll miss the “quiet and relaxed atmosphere” of his makeshift studio, where “fascinating and sometimes hilarious” conversations with Her Majesty kept the brushes flowing. He set out to marry the grandeur of coronation iconography with a glimpse of Camilla’s empathy and warmth, achieving a portrait that feels both majestic and inviting.
These paintings now join the Royal Collection and will remain on display at the National Gallery until June 5 before relocating to the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace. From July 10 to Sept. 28, visitors can view them during the Summer Opening of the State Rooms. This artistic celebration followed Charles’s leadership at VE Day commemorations on May 8 and precedes a week of national remembrance at Westminster Abbey, graced by senior royals. If you thought royal portraiture was a dusty relic, these modern masterpieces prove otherwise, blending centuries-old ceremony with contemporary relevance. Glad I could clear that up—hope it wasn’t too much to digest.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Dotdash Meredith
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
