King Charles honoured with new portrait for Armed Forces Day

The King's new portrait by Hugo Burnand celebrates his military roles and pays tribute to service members.

King Charles III has been honoured with a new portrait unveiled for Armed Forces Day on Saturday, June 29. 

The photograph, taken by Hugo Burnand at Windsor Castle in November 2023, shows the King in full military regalia, adorned with various medals, swords, and decorations. This image pays tribute to service members and reflects his roles as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Services and Field Marshal, the highest rank in the British Army.

A new portrait of The King has been released to mark #ArmedForcesDay. His Majesty is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Services.

The photograph features His Majesty wearing his Field Marshal No1 Full Ceremonial Frock Coat with medals, sword and decorations.

© Hugo Burnand/Royal… pic.twitter.com/XD3cGdHrf3

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 29, 2024

Armed Forces Day, observed on the final Saturday of June, honours the service of men and women in the British Armed Forces. The holiday, originally called Veteran’s Day, is often marked by local parades celebrating veterans. It is distinct from Remembrance Sunday, which memorialises fallen soldiers from all conflicts since the Great War, with ceremonies held on the Sunday closest to November 11.

This year, Queen Camilla released a heartfelt video for Armed Forces Day, praising the “determination, unrelenting efforts, and selfless loyalty” of service members “to each other and to the United Kingdom.” The new portrait of King Charles has been well received, with royal fans calling it “regal” and “magnificent,” a stark contrast to a more modern painting unveiled in May, which received mixed reactions.