The artist behind a new portrait of the King says Charles' body language changed after he was crowned monarch - and he admits not everyone may love his 'fiery' painting.
The first official portrait of the King was commissioned back in 2020 to celebrate the then-Prince of Wales's 50 years as a member of The Drapers' Company.
Renowned artist Jonathan Yeo had four sittings over several years, beginning when His Majesty was Prince of Wales in June 2021 at Highgrove, and later at Clarence House.
Charles was still sitting for the portrait, unveiled yesterday at Buckingham Palace, when Queen Elizabeth died on September 8th 2022 and he became Monarch.
The painting depicts His Majesty wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guards, of which he was made Regimental Colonel in 1975.
Artist Jonathan Yeo poses next to his painting of the King at Buckingham Palace yesterday. In a new interview about the four sittings he had with Charles, Yeo said he witnessed a transformation in his body language after he was crowned Monarch
Speaking about painting Charles before and after his ascension to the throne, Yeo said: 'When he became King half way through [sitting], that in a way made it more interesting.
'I was able to see the shift in the body language. Sometimes you talk about these things metaphorically but to be visibly able to see someone gain stature and to become more comfortable in themselves is a really interesting thing.'
Yeo also said he was unaware of the King's cancer diagnosis during the final sitting for the painting. The last sitting took place in November 2023 at Clarence House.
He said: 'I didn't sense anything wrong in particular. And also I think when you've got cancer...it's often towards the end of the treatment that it takes a more physical toll.'
Speaking about how the portrait will be received, he said: 'There's always people who will disagree with you on how to paint these things.
'People may not agree with how I've done it but it's a bit different from the other royal portraits I've seen.
The 53-year-old renowned artist said it was fascinating to watch Charles 'gain stature' after he became King following the death of Queen Elizabeth in 2022
King Charles unveiled the first completed official portrait of himself since the Coronation at Buckingham Palace yesterday
Yeo also said in the footage that he was unaware of the King's cancer diagnosis during the final sittings for the painting
Some of the images that inspired the bright red colours of the painting, which the artist admits he thinks not everyone will appreciate
Some of the photographs of the King that Yeo used to help him paint the official portrait
Yeo said the bright red colours were part of that, explaining: 'I was playing with this idea of mysticism. We still buy into the idea of the royal family being a bit different from us in some way.'
He also touched on the King as a sitter, saying in the short clip: 'He'll pretend to laugh at your jokes and be funny and curious and interested. He's good at putting people at their ease.
'All of us have our biography etched into our faces. It was more the weight of the world on his shoulders once he'd become King - but he hadn't lost his sense of humour or his curiosity about lots of different things. He was always asking questions and interested in everything.
He also worked from drawings and photography he took of His Majesty, allowing him to work on the portrait in his London studio between sittings.
Yeo used photographs of the King in military regalia alongside 'a bit of the recollection of being with him' to create the painting, saying he wanted to 'recreate the sense of being with someone' and 'try and show a few different elements of their personality, sometimes contradictory ones.'
The King sat with the artist four times over a period of several years, beginning in 2021
Yesterday at the unveiling, the artist also spoke about the butterfly on the portrait echoing Charles's 'metamorphosis' from Prince to King during the process - and the monarch joked that it was nice to know he was a chrysalis.
Yeo added: 'People often say is there a secret to doing a good portrait? And I say I don't know really. Actually I think there is one, and that's having an interesting subject to start with. And you couldn't ask for a better one than this, other than Her Majesty.'
The artist gestured towards Camilla, also in attendance - whom he also painted a portrait of in 2014 - and the comment was greeted with much laughter by those gathered in the palace.
🎨Today, The King unveiled a new portrait by @RealJonathanYeo at Buckingham Palace. The painting - commissioned by The Draper’s Company - is the first official portrait to be completed since His Majesty’s Coronation. It will hang in Draper’s Hall in London. pic.twitter.com/yVAK2PQslz
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 14, 2024
Yeo said: 'It was a privilege and pleasure to have been commissioned by The Drapers' Company to paint this portrait of His Majesty The King, the first to be unveiled since his Coronation.
'When I started this project, His Majesty The King was still His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, and much like the butterfly I've painted hovering over his shoulder, this portrait has evolved as the subject's role in our public life has transformed.
'I do my best to capture the life experiences etched into any individual sitter's face. In this case, my aim was also to make reference to the traditions of royal portraiture but in a way that reflects a 21st Century monarchy and, above all else, to communicate the subject's deep humanity.
Here goes: King Charles seen preparing to unveil the painting at Buckingham Palace
The painting was revealed for the first time by King Charles at Buckingham Palace
King Charles seen standing at Buckingham Palace next to Yeo earlier this week
'I'm unimaginably grateful for the opportunity to capture such an extraordinary and unique person, especially at the historic moment of becoming King.'
At Buckingham Palace, Charles and Queen Camilla were met by The Master of The Drapers' Company, Tom Harris and Past Master, William Charnley.
Together they joined Yeo who said a few words after His Majesty unveiled the portrait.
Guests included other members of the Drapers' Company, students and staff from the Drapers' Academy, Welsh Guards and Yeo's family.
The portrait will go on public display for a month at the Philip Mould Gallery in London, from this Thursday until June 14. Entry is free.
The artwork is expected to be displayed at Drapers' Hall from the end of August.
Yeo is one of the world's leading portrait artists whose subjects have included the industrial designer Sir Jony Ive, broadcaster Sir David Attenborough and activists Malala Yousafzai and Doreen Lawrence.
A portrait by Jonathan Yeo of Queen Camilla in 2014 when she was Duchess of Cornwall
A portrait released by Jonathan Yeo in 2008 of Prince Philip, who died in April 2021
He has also produced portraits of actors Nicole Kidman, Giancarlo Esposito, Dennis Hopper, Idris Elba and Sienna Miller, artists Damien Hirst and Grayson Perry, model Cara Delevingne and former world leaders Tony Blair, David Cameron, Helle Thorning-Schmidt and Juan Manuel Santos.
In addition, Yeo has previously produced commissions of Prince Philip and Camilla.
Known for both traditional and experimental portraiture, his work has been exhibited widely in museums and galleries worldwide. He is currently artist trustee of the National Portrait Gallery.
The Drapers' Company can trace its allegiance to the monarch back to 1364 when it received its first charter from King Edward III.
This formally recognised the fraternity of Drapers in the City of London and granted them the monopoly rights over the cloth trade within the City.
The Company was frequently called upon to supply money, men and arms as required by the Crown.
From the 18th century, such support changed to the financial support of servicemen and the relief of need of the dependants of those injured or killed on duty.
Prince Albert, later George VI, became a Draper in 1919. Queen Elizabeth II became a Draper in 1947, joining the Court in 2017.
Charles became a Freeman of the Drapers' Company in 1971, when the Company also provided offices for the newly formed Prince's Trust at Drapers' Hall.
The Drapers' Company also boasts a substantial philanthropic arm, which dates back to Tudor times and now is administered through many charitable trusts that have been left in its care.