King Charles’ First Official Portrait Since His Coronation Is Leaving People Baffled

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King Charles’ newest portrait is turning heads for many reasons. This is the first portrait of the monarch since his 2023 coronation, and it is unlike any other royal portrait that came before it. From the way the artist described it, the new style is kind of the point. King Charles is the first new monarch in 70 years, so it makes sense he would want to show the ways his reign as king will be different. Some people on social media are big fans, but others say it’s “disrespectful” to Charles and his legacy. No matter how people feel about it, the painting is definitely a conversation starter.

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The portrait is unlike any other.

The painting of the king was done by British artist Jonathan Yeo. It features Charles in the red uniform of the Welsh Guards, of which he was made regimental colonel in 1975, according to a press release shared by Today. The background of the painting is almost entirely red, and you can see the king with his hands on his sword and a monarch butterfly over his right shoulder.

The portrait was commissioned in 2020 to celebrate the then Prince of Wales’ 50 years as a member of The Drapers’ Company in 2022. It will hang in London’s Drapers’ Hall, Buckingham Palace said.

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Yeo has painted members of the royal family before.

“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,” Yeo shared in a statement shared on Instagram.

Yeo also painted a portrait of Queen Camilla, the queen consort, and the late Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. He explained that with his portraits, he does his best to capture the “life experiences etched into any individual sitter’s face.”

King Charles seems to enjoy his portrait.

The royal family shared Charles unveiling the portrait alongside Yeo. In the video, Charles looks pleased with the painting, and the BBC claimed that Camilla told Yeo, “Yes, you’ve got him.”

Yeo, who sat with the king four times to paint the portrait, said his main goal for this portrait was to “make reference to the traditions of royal portraiture but in a way that reflects a 21st century monarchy” and to “communicate the subject’s deep humanity.”

People have a lot of questions.

It’s unclear if people got what Yeo was going for, based on their strong reactions to the portrait on social media.

“Without sounding rude this is the worst royal portrait I’ve ever seen,” one person commented on the royal family’s Instagram.

“I am a portrait artist. This looks like an unfinished portrait and disrespectful to present this to His Majesty,” another person wrote on Instagram.

“That’s a solid no from me. Straight to the attic,” another person tweeted.

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Not everyone hated it.

On the other hand, there are definitely people out there who genuinely seem to enjoy the painting.

“A lovely portrait of King Charles! I love the way the muted background draws attention to his face!” one Instagram comment read.

“This painting is absolutely SPECTACULAR and so sophisticated and STRONG ❤️ Congratulations to the artist,” another person wrote on Instagram.

“I like the style the artist creates. I love how the red evokes the uniform, but takes from the finery, leaving the focus on the face and hands,” one person tweeted.