'Ghoulish' first official painted portrait of King Charles III divides opinion

The first official painted portrait of King Charles III since his coronation has been unveiled at Buckingham Palace, but it's a little more unconventional than what you might traditionally associate with the painting of a monarch.

The grand reveal was received with polite royal applause - but it's certainly not every Brit's cup of tea.

"It's kind of ghoulish," said one.

"Bit too red, not for me," said another.

"Oh man it's pretty, pretty red. Looks kind of like a massacre or something here," said another.

"It's like a floating head. I mean, who did that?"

'Ghoulish' first official painted portrait of King Charles III divides opinion
Photo credit: Getty Images

Jonathon Yeo is the artist's name and he was inspired by the vibrant red tunic of the Welsh guards worn by the King.

The painting was first commissioned when the King was a Prince in 2020.

The monarch butterfly painted next to him is symbolic of his own transformation and its addition was actually the monarch's idea.

The King played model on four occasions for the piece, holding his portrait pose an hour at each of those times.