King and Queen's official Coronation portraits revealed
The King and Queen have unveiled their new Coronation state portraits in the National Gallery.
The King's portrait has been created by Peter Kuhfeld, and the Queen's by Paul S Benney. They depict the monarch and his consort in their Robes of State, alongside their crowns.
Both have been seen by the public for the first time at the National Gallery, at an event marking its 200th anniversary. It is believed that it is also the first time that the King and Queen have seen the completed portraits.
Queen Camilla said of her portrait: 'I just love it', while the King praised the 'wonderful composition' of his.
The King, a keen patron of the arts and architecture who nevertheless once famously described an extension of the gallery as a 'monstrous carbuncle', also unveiled a plaque to mark the completion of a two-year building project and the re-opening of the Sainsbury Wing.
The King and Queen both attended the event, at which John Booth, chairman of the National, delivered a short speech of welcome before inviting Their Majesties to unveil their new portraits.
They were greeted inside the Sainsbury Wing by a fanfare from the State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry Band, echoing the welcome that Queen Elizabeth II received when she opened the original Sainsbury Wing in 1991.
Sir Gabriele Finaldi, director, and John Booth, chairman, will later introduce the King and Queen to architect Annabelle Selldorf, and some of the project, building and design team.
They will view the new Roden Centre for Creative Learning and the new restaurant by Giorgio and Plaxy Locatelli.
They will also be given a short tour of the gallery to see some of the works of art on loan from the Royal Collection in the redisplay, C C Land: The Wonder of Art, that opens on May 10.
It includes Andrea Mantegna's painting series called The Triumphs of Caesar.
Peter Kuhfeld, who painted the King, was granted five sittings over a year-and-a-half, and said he wanted to paint him as 'both human and regal'.
The crown, he said, had its 'own sittings', with the King keen to discuss 'certain aspects' of the work.
Paul Benney, who painted the Queen, said he had hoped to capture 'humanity and empathy', having 'hours of fascinating and sometimes hilarious conversation' with her as he worked.
Kuhfeld was first commissioned by the King to paint Prince William and Prince Harry when they were aged five and three, and has since travelled overseas with His Majesty as an official tour artist.
'I have tried to produce a painting that is both human and regal, continuing the tradition of royal portraiture,' he said.
'His Majesty gave of his time with his usual graciousness and attention to detail, and we discussed certain aspects of the painting.
'He gave me five sittings in total, not including the painting of the Imperial State Crown. The State Crown had its own sittings!'
The commission was kept a secret, only briefly shared with the artist's granddaughter when she accidentally spotted the painting in his studio.
'I usually start with drawings to develop my ideas and then move on to several oil studies to work out problems of composition,' said Kuhfeld.
'During this time, nobody was allowed in my studio while I was working, but one evening my eldest granddaughter forgot, when coming to tell me supper was ready; she burst through the door and came to a standstill and exclaimed, 'Oh! It's the King!''
Benney said it had been an 'honour, privilege and total pleasure' to undertake the first official portrait of her since the Coronation.
'It is with some regret that the sittings for this important commission have come to an end,' he added.
'After nearly a year of being installed in a temporary studio at Clarence House, I have deep and abiding memories of many hours of fascinating and sometimes hilarious conversation with Her Majesty on countless varied subjects.
'I shall miss the quiet and relaxed atmosphere while I was working there, even when Their Majesties were engaged elsewhere.
'My guiding principles in this commission were to both acknowledge the grand and historic nature of the Coronation iconography with all the equipage of the Monarchy and at the same time reveal the humanity and empathy of such an extraordinary person taking on an extraordinary role.'
After being on display at the National Gallery, of which the King is royal patron, the paintings will move to a permanent home in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace, where they can be seen by tourists during the annual Summer Opening.
The tradition of state portraits dates back to the Coronation of James VI in 1620.
Following royal custom, the portrait of the King includes the Imperial State Crown, placed on a table to one side. He is wearing his Robe of State and naval uniform 'Number 1 Ceremonial Day Dress' with medals and decorations.
The Queen's portrait includes Queen Camilla's Crown, formerly known as Queen Mary's Crown. She wears her Coronation Dress, which was designed by Bruce Oldfield.
The new portraits were unveiled shortly after a new collection of artworks commemorating the Coronation.
Commissioned by the King, other paintings and monochrome images show the Gold State Coach procession, heralds waiting to take part in events and the King and Queen during the Westminster Abbey coronation.
The King followed a long-held tradition and commissioned five artists to capture significant events from the coronation weekend, with four of the creatives being former students from his Royal Drawing School.
The Coronation was held on May 6 2023, and the King saw the finished pieces, now part of the Royal Collection, last September during a presentation at his Clarence House home.
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