Artist Jonathan Yeo unveils portrait of King Charles: See the painting

LONDON - King Charles III on Tuesday unveiled the first official portrait of himself since his coronation last May.

The portrait by artist Jonathan Yeo depicts Charles, 75, against a background of vivid red hues, wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guards military unit with a butterfly just above his shoulder.

"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," Yeo, 53, who has previously painted Charles' late father Prince Philip, said in a statement.

"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."

The portrait unveiled at Buckingham Palace was commissioned in 2020 to celebrate the then Prince of Wales' 50 years as a member of the grant-giving body, The Drapers' Company, in 2022, the palace said.

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Yeo had four sittings with the king, beginning in June 2021 with the then-Prince of Wales, to the last sitting in November 2023 at Clarence House. The artist also worked from his own drawings and photographs.

Yeo's past subjects have included British broadcaster and naturalist David Attenborough, Oscar-winning actor Nicole Kidman and former Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The oil on canvas artwork, which measures about 8 1/2 by 6 1/2 feet, is expected to be displayed at Drapers' Hall in the City of London - the capital's financial district - from the end of August, the palace said.

The portrait is timely, as the king made his public return late last month after taking a step back from treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.

The British monarch visited a cancer treatment center with his wife, Queen Camilla, and met with patients and medical specialists.

Charles will continue treatment for an undetermined amount of time, but according to the palace, "doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far that The King is now able to resume a number of public-facing duties."

Despite not having a clear timeline on when Charles can conclude treatment, the palace said his medical team is "very encouraged by the progress made so far and remain positive" about his recovery.

Contributing: Naledi Ushe and Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY