King Charles III thanks public for ‘kindness, support,’ coronation portraits released
Charles promises to dedicate his life to serving realm countries including Australia, as official portraits are released featuring a slimmed down royal group.
King Charles III has thanked everyone for their support and repeated his promised to dedicate his life to serving realm countries including Australia as official portraits were released with two key family members missing.
Charles said in a written message released on Monday night: “To know that we have your support and encouragement, and to witness your kindness expressed in so many different ways, has been the greatest possible Coronation gift, as we now rededicate our lives to serving the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and Commonwealth.”
This comes as hundreds of thousands of people joined in volunteer groups in The Big Help Out, which saw five year old Prince Louis take the controls of a digger with his father at the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough, west of London. Louis also determinedly insisted on filling his own wheelbarrow with dirt to help volunteers lay a path.
In another project, Louis, big sister Princess Charlotte, eight, and nine year old big brother Prince George painted their hands to create a mural.
The Big Help Out was the final tranche of celebrations following the coronation of Charles and Queen Camilla on Saturday, and the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle on Sunday.
Four official photographs, taken immediately after the Royals had waved to enthusiastic, but sodden crowds in The Mall from the Buckingham Palace balcony on Saturday afternoon, have been released.
Prince Harry, 38, is missing as he dashed off to catch a plane back to California, despite a place being laid for him to join in a family lunch; while Prince Andrew, who has been stood down as a working royal, was also absent.
The group shot features the adult core of the Royal Family, a slimmed down group which Charles wants to focus on the line of succession, as well as honouring the late Queen Elizabeth’s cousins, elderly royals who are now retired.
For the first time in the photograph, the public can see the bespoke robe of estate worn at the coronation by Queen Camilla - with her cypher and her rescue dogs embroidered near the hem - and the Princess of Wales’ silver embroidered ivory silk crepe dress and the sash of the Victorian Order.
The solo picture of Charles in full regalia, taken by photographer Hugo Barnard, captures the purple silk velvet and gold embroidered Robe of Estate, the Imperial state crown and His Majesty holding the holding the Orb and Sceptre with Cross.
In the group shot Charles and Camilla are centre stage. On Charles’ left he is flanked by his sister Princess Anne followed by her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence. Next in line are the Duke of Kent, the Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Gloucester.
Standing next to Camilla are the Prince and Princess of Wales. Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh and her husband Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh are next, giving a helping hand to Princess Alexandra.
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