King Charles’ Really, Really Red Portrait: All Of Its Secretive Meanings

British royal family news discloses that King Charles’ first official portrait, painted by British artist Jonathan Yeo, debuted at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, a few days after the one-year anniversary of his coronation on May 6, 2023.

The portrait was commissioned in 2020 to recognize Charles’ 50 years as a member of The Drapers Company, a UK charity that supports education, prisoner rehabilitation, and elder care.

Between 2021 and 2023 Yeo and Charles had four sitting in Highgrove and Clarence House; it will be hung at Drapers’ Hall in London. Here’s what to know about this very unique, outside-the-box royal portrait.

Royal News – Charles Red Portrait

The first thing to know about the picture is that it is composed mainly of red tones in broad ambiguous strokes, save for the realistic rendering of the king’s face. It is unlike any royal portrait to date, and Charles was thrown “for a bit of a loop when he first saw it” Yeo told the BBC Tuesday.

“He was initially mildly surprised by the strong colour, but otherwise he seemed to be smiling approvingly.”

Royal News – Charles’ Portrait Goes Viral

Social media was split over the artist’s dramatic rendition. Of note, Queen Camilla approved of the piece as did Charles, and that’s all that really matters.

The BBC quoted Camilla as saying “Yes, you’ve got him.”
The painting has several easter eggs, here are some of them.

https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1790733369803678125

Royal Family News – Charles’ Portrait Easter Eggs

The blatant, practically omnipresent red paint is “a nod to Charles’ royal heritage as the color often appears in many historical royal paintings.”

Yeo noted that Charles’ face is “more pronounced to allow viewers to feel a sense of connection with the king as a person rather than have their attention diverted by his regalia.”

Royal Family News – Coor Charles Red

There is a butterfly above Charles’ right shoulder which has several hidden meanings. First, it is a monarch butterfly—enough said.

The butterfly also represents “Charles’ longtime passion for environmental causes.” Yet another allusion refers to Charles’ evolution from prince to king, such as the transformation from a caterpillar into a butterfly.

In particular, Charles was the Prince of Wales when Yeo started the portrait and at its conclusion Charles had become king.

Overall the modern portrait is visually arresting, surprising in its execution, but ultimately compelling—a perfect reflection of the complex, daring, and captivating King Charles.

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Photo by YAY_Images – Deposit Photos