New King Charles Portrait Sparks Backlash Over 'Blood-Red' Palette
The first official portrait of King Charles III since his coronation last May was unveiled at Buckingham Palace, igniting a mix of admiration and controversy.
The large-scale painting, dominated by a red palette, was created by artist Jonathan Yeo. Yeo, renowned for his portraits of notable figures such as David Attenborough, Malala Yousafzai, and Nicole Kidman, was present alongside the king during the public unveiling. He has also painted Queen Camilla and the late Prince Philip, the king’s father.
**Presentation at Buckingham Palace**
The nearly nine-by-seven-foot portrait was commissioned by the Worshipful Company of Drapers, a medieval guild now focused on philanthropy. It will be displayed in Drapers’ Hall, home to a gallery dedicated to British monarchs.
The unveiling coincided with the king's return to public duties following a cancer diagnosis. King Charles sat for Yeo four times, each session lasting about an hour, starting in 2021 when he was still Prince of Wales.
In the portrait, the king is depicted in a red military uniform, reflecting his role as Regimental Colonel in the Welsh Guards. This uniform likely influenced Yeo's choice of a fiery red palette, a decision that has polarized opinion.
“If this was seen as treasonous, I could literally pay for it with my head,” Yeo joked to the BBC, adding, “which would be an appropriate way for a portrait painter to die—to have their head removed!”
A butterfly, symbolizing metamorphosis and rebirth, appears by the king’s left shoulder, reportedly at the king’s suggestion.
**Public Reaction**
While King Charles and Queen Camilla, who praised the likeness by saying, “yes, you’ve got him,” seemed pleased with the portrait, public opinion has been divided.
Positive comments on the Royal Family’s official Instagram post describe the painting as “spectacular” and “stunning.” However, some critics have described the crimson tones as depicting the king “burning in hell” or “bathing in blood,” with references to “the colonial bloodshed produced by British imperialism.”
The Cut remarked that “Charles’s face is like a disembodied specter of death floating between violent brushstrokes.”
Conversely, art critic Richard Morris expressed appreciation on X, stating, “I really like the portrait… before photography, to have a great painter capture your real appearance you accepted the revelation of your flaws and your mortality. It’s what Yeo captures here.”
Meanwhile, the satirical news show Have I Got News For You joked on X that the portrait seemed to be the latest victim of a Just Stop Oil protest, humorously suggesting it had been splashed with tomato soup.
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