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.
