Social media either ‘impressed or horrified’ by King Charles’ first official portrait

Gavin Riley / Our Today

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A portrait of Britain’s King Charles by artist Jonathan Yeo is pictured at Buckingham Palace, London, Britain May 14, 2024. (Photo: Aaron Chown/Pool via REUTERS)

King Charles III may have unintentionally drawn the collective ire of the Internet as his first official portrait remains at the centre of criticism across social media platforms.

Buckingham Palace noted in a statement that it was his first since his coronation as king just over a year ago in May 2023.

Commissioned by powerful charity, The Draper’s Company, Charles III is depicted against a background of vivid red hues, wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guards military unit, with a butterfly just above his shoulder.

The portrait was the brainchild of 53-year-old British artist Jonathan Yeo, who has previously worked on Queen Camilla (formerly Dutchess of Cornwall) in 2014 and his father, the Duke of Edinburgh in 2008.

Yeo was seemingly confident he delivered on his intention to present King Charles’ poise and down-to-earthiness.

Britain’s King Charles meets with artist Jonathan Yeo next to a portrait of the king, at Buckingham Palace, London, Britain May 14, 2024. (Photo: Aaron Chown/Pool via REUTERS)

“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,” he said in a statement.

“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.”

While the portrait was initially unveiled to much fanfare on Tuesday (May 14), backlash quickly drowned out the image as many on social media lamented how ‘lifeless’ and ‘grim’ the king had appeared.

Though unimpressed, others said the portrait was ‘fitting’ as it inadvertently immortalises and physically embodies the sins of the British Empire and colonialism—the scar of which still lingers across the Global South.

Britons, reacting to the portrait, questioned how much Buckingham Palace’s ‘latest vanity project’ would cost taxpayers, as despite some calling the painting a masterpiece, detractors slammed its ‘hellish’ overtones.

Britain’s King Charles unveils his portrait by artist Jonathan Yeo, at Buckingham Palace, London, Britain May 14, 2024. (Photo: Aaron Chown/Pool via REUTERS)

The overall consensus seemed to be that red was perhaps not the ideal colour choice for the portrait.

On the X.com platform, formerly Twitter, gamers joked that the king’s portrait is eerily similar to the colour palette used in the Elden Ring video game when a character is infected with ‘scarlet rot’.

More still likened the portrait to the mythic Dorian Gray painting from the mind of Oscar Wilde, branding its optics as equally haunting.