Take A Look At Buckingham Palace’s Portraits From King Charles’ Coronation
By Alexa Heah, 09 May 2023
As the week-long festivities of the coronation come to an end, Buckingham Palace has released a new message from King Charles III and Queen Camilla, in which the duo conveyed “most sincere and heartfelt thanks” alongside four special images from the glitzy event.
Photographer Hugo Burnand, who was tasked with capturing the official portraits of the British Royal Family at King Charles’ recent coronation, said the once-in-a-lifetime job was “the biggest commission” of his life.
According to PetaPixel, it wasn’t a surprise Burnand was chosen for the occasion, considering he’s the only portrait photographer with a Royal warrant, and was also the chosen shutterbug for the King and Queen’s wedding in 2005.
All of the photographs were taken in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace with “very limited time.” The first image depicts the King dressed in full coronation regalia, including the Robe of Estate, Imperial State Crown, Sovereign’s Orb, and Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross.
In the picture, His Majesty is seated on one of a pair of throne chairs dating all the way back to 1902, which were built for King Edward VII’s coronation, and was later reused by King George V and Queen Mary’s respective events.
Queen Camilla was featured in a solo portrait as well, donning Queen Mary’s Crown and Robe of Estate while posing in the palace’s Green Drawing Room. Together, the duo posed for another picture standing side-by-side in the Throne Room.
Last but not least, the fourth photograph portrays a group picture of the “working Royals”—members of the Royal Family who participate in official duties on behalf of the King. Many noted that Prince Harry, who has since given up his royal duties, did not appear in the image.
Burnand told the publication he wanted the pictures to feel “intimate” to viewers so that those who looked at the portrait would feel as though they were having “a one-to-one conversation” with the King.
[via PetaPixel and CNN, images via The Royal Household / Hugo Burnand]