Royal news – live: King Charles unveils official portrait as Meghan reveals ‘best souvenir’ from Nigeria tour
Duke of Sussex missed his father during his brief visit to London
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King Charles and Queen Camilla have hosted a star-studded garden party for UK creatives following the news that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s charity is no longer “delinquent”.
News of the charity’s troubles came amid a three-day unofficial tour of Nigeria to mark the 10th anniversary of the Duke of Sussex’s Invictus Games.
The couple said the visit was “unforgettable” with Meghan describing the memories they made as the “best souvenir”.
The statement came after news of the state of California declaring the couple’s charity “delinquent”.
The Archewell Foundation was given the status after “failing to submit [the] required annual report(s) and/or renewal fees”.
However, on Tuesday it emerged that the fees and paperwork had been submitted properly – last year – and so the charity is no longer listed as delinquent.
The King and Queen then hosted a garden party at Buckingham Palace yesterday afternoon for around 4,000 members of the UK’s creative industries.
The event took place just a day after a striking new portrait of King Charles was unveiled.
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Archewell Foundation no longer listed as ‘delinquent’
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Archewell Foundation is no longer listed as “delinquent” by California’s Registry of Charities and Fundraisers.
On Monday the charity was listed as “delinquent” and a delinquency notice letter was sent to the foundation on May 3 for “failing to submit required annual report(s) and/or renewal fees”, but on Tuesday the status of Archewell Foundation had been changed to “current”.
The letter had warned that an organisation listed as delinquent is banned from “soliciting or disbursing charitable funds” and “its registration may be suspended or revoked by the registry”.
On Tuesday, a statement from California’s Department of Justice said the Archewell Foundation is “current and in good standing”.
A spokesperson for California’s Department of Justice said: “After being in touch with our Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, the organisation is current and in good standing.”
The PA news agency understands the issue arose from a payment which was thought to have been sent but was said to have not been received. However, new records show the required payment was sent last year and was delivered on schedule.
The Archewell Foundation said after investigating that it found payments were made “promptly” and all paperwork was filed “without error or wrongdoing”.
Behind the artistic process of the King’s first completed portrait since coronation
British artist Jonathan Yeo had four sittings with the King for his new portrait, beginning when Charles was Prince of Wales in June 2021 at Highgrove, and later at Clarence House. The last sitting took place in November 2023 at Clarence House.
Mr Yeo worked from drawings and photographs he took of the King, allowing him to work on the portrait in his London studio between sittings.
He said: “It was a privilege and pleasure to have been commissioned by The Drapers’ Company to paint this portrait of His Majesty The King, the first to be unveiled since his coronation.
“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.
“I do my best to capture the life experiences etched into any individual sitter’s face. In this case, 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.
“I’m unimaginably grateful for the opportunity to capture such an extraordinary and unique person, especially at the historic moment of becoming King.”
Mr Yeo has also previously produced commissions of Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Camilla, Sir Tony Blair and Lord David Cameron.
New King portrait ‘tells multiple stories,’ artist says
During a conversation with Charles, the artist of the King’s new painting Jonathan Yeo said they discussed how it would be “nice to have a narrative element which referenced his passion for nature and environment”.
He spoke of how Charles “changed jobs halfway through the process” and the butterfly is a “symbol of metamorphosis” so it “tells multiple stories”.
After Yeo’s speech, the King joked “it’s nice to know I was a chrysalis when you first met me,” which was met with laughter.
After the unveiling Yeo said he often says the secret to a good portrait is “having an interesting subject to start with, and you couldn’t ask for a better one than this”, before quickly adding “other than Your Majesty” referring to Camilla who he has previously painted.
Yeo said The Drapers’ Company had asked for the portrait to be a specific scale, and there was a preference for Charles being in uniform, but no other directions from them or the King, which Yeo added was “exciting and also a little bit daunting”.
He said the King “couldn’t be more lively” and was “very easy company” during their sittings, adding: “He kind of makes you laugh and asks lots of questions, and he’s interested in art as well so there’s always lots to talk about.”
Charles unveils first official portrait of himself since coronation
The King has unveiled the first completed official portrait of himself since the coronation, which includes one detail Charles suggested should be added.
The portrait, by British artist Jonathan Yeo, was commissioned in 2020 to celebrate the then Prince of Wales’s 50 years as a member of The Drapers’ Company in 2022.
The portrait, which was unveiled on Tuesday afternoon at Buckingham Palace, depicts Charles wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guards, of which he was made Regimental Colonel in 1975.
The uniform of the Welsh Guards inspired the colour red, which was painted over much of the portrait, as Yeo said he felt like this portrait should have more of a “dynamic and contemporary feel”.
A butterfly is hovering over the King’s shoulder in the portrait, which was added in by Yeo at Charles‘s suggestion.
After the unveiling, Yeo said he would “love to take full credit for that” but it was “actually the subject’s idea”.
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