New Portrait of King Charles Unveiled at Scottish Parliament
A new official portrait of King Charles III was unveiled by his sister, Princess Anne, at the Scottish Parliament on Friday. The portrait, captured in 2024 by photographer Millie Pilkington, depicts the 76-year-old King standing in the Sunken Garden at Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands.
His Majesty is pictured wearing a traditional kilt made from the King Charles III tartan and holding a handcrafted walking stick. Notably, the King is also wearing a gold signet ring on his pinky finger.
observers have pointed out a potential change in the King’s jewelry.While he traditionally wears a signet ring passed down from the Duke of windsor, some have noted the coat of arms on the ring in the new portrait bears a resemblance to one previously worn by his father, Prince Philip. Photos of the late Duke of Edinburgh show him wearing a ring featuring the royal family of Greece’s coat of arms on the bezel.
Millie Pilkington, one of Britain’s leading portrait photographers, described it as “an immense honor” to photograph the King in Scotland, adding that the backdrop of Balmoral gardens and the Highlands allowed her to capture his “warmth and deep connection to nature and Scotland.”
The portrait will be displayed in the Main Hall of the Scottish Parliament, where it will be seen by the thousands of visitors who visit annually. Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, The Presiding Officer, stated, “It’s a striking image which is a reminder of His Majesty’s love of Scotland and the affectionate connection he has with the country and its people.”
