Buckingham Palace releases first official portrait of King Charles

Buckingham Palace has released official portraits unveiling King Charles III resplendent in his royal regalia to round off the monarch’s extraordinary Coronation weekend.

The King and Queen pledged to rededicate their lives to service as Charles called the nation’s support throughout the historic celebrations ‘the greatest possible Coronation gift’.

As the weekend of festivities draw to a close, Charles issued a written message, saying: ‘We thank you, each and every one.’

The special Bank Holiday weekend to mark the King’s Coronation was the first in 70 years, since the crowning of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

Among the official portraits was one of the King was captured in his full regalia, wearing the Imperial State Crown, holding the Orb and Sceptre with Cross.