King Charles and Queen Camilla’s official portraits take pride of place in historic royal setting
The Throne Room of Buckingham Palace has welcomed the presence of the new monarch and his consort in a deeply symbolic and emotional moment, as the official state portraits of King Charles III and Queen Camilla were hung in their permanent home.
Commissioned to mark the Coronation, these two striking portraits are the latest additions to the centuries-old tradition of royal portraiture. Each was created by an artist personally chosen by the royal couple—Peter Kuhfeld for the King and Paul S. Benney for the Queen—both of whom are no strangers to royal commissions.
In a video shared to the royal family’s official Instagram account, viewers were given a glimpse of the moving ceremony. “Earlier this year, the new State Portraits of The King and Queen were hung in their permanent home in the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace,” the statement read. “Watch our film to find out more about the history of state portraiture. You can see the portraits during the summer opening of Buckingham Palace.”
The portraits were first displayed at the National Gallery—where King Charles serves as Royal Patron—from May 6 to June 5, before being moved to Buckingham Palace.
King Charles’ portrait captures the monarch in his Robe of State, worn during the early part of the Coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey. He stands beside the Imperial State Crown, resting on a table, and wears his Number 1 Ceremonial Day Dress of the Royal Navy, adorned with medals and decorations.
Queen Camilla’s portrait features her wearing Queen Mary’s Crown and her Robe of Estate, which she wore as she exited the Abbey on Coronation Day. Her Coronation Dress, designed by Bruce Oldfield, is made of ivory silk and embroidered with gold and silver floral motifs, symbolising the royal couple’s deep connection to nature.
These portraits not only honour the historic Coronation of Their Majesties but also join a timeless lineage of state portraiture, solidifying their place in the royal legacy and offering the public a lasting glimpse into a defining moment of the modern monarchy.
