The Scottish Parliament has welcomed a new addition to its Main Hall – a portrait of Charles III – which was unveiled by the Monarch’s sister, Princess Anne.
The image will greet visitors each year, standing alongside a portrait of the late Elizabeth II that the Princess also unveiled back in 2011.
The portrait, taken in 2024 by photographer Millie Pilkington, captures King Charles in the Sunken Garden at Balmoral Castle, where the Royals spend time in summer. Dressed in a traditional kilt made from the King Charles III tartan, the Monarch holds a handcrafted walking stick gifted to him by the Mey Highland Games.
The portrait was commissioned to mark the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament.
This new photograph of The King sits alongside the abstract Three Honours sculpture, designed and crafted by Scottish silversmith Graham Stewart; the sculpture was presented as a gift from the late Queen when the building opened in 2004.
The Presiding Officer, the Rt Hon Alison Johnstone MSP, said: ‘It was a pleasure to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to the Scottish Parliament, to unveil this portrait of His Majesty The King.
‘The portrait will hang in the Parliament’s Main Hall, greeting the many thousands of visitors who come through our doors every year. It’s a striking image which is a reminder of His Majesty’s love of Scotland and the affectionate connection he has with the country and its people.’
Photographer Millie Pilkington said: ‘It was an immense honour to be asked to take an official portrait of His Majesty in Scotland. Using the breathtaking backdrop of Balmoral gardens and the Highlands enabled me to The King’s warmth and deep connection to nature and Scotland.’
Pilkington, a frequent royal photographer, has captured numerous official portraits of King Charles and Queen Camilla, as well as photographs of The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children. Her portfolio of photographs includes Prince Louis’s fifth birthday, Princess Charlotte’s eighth and Prince George’s 10th, along with official portraits of Charles in The Topiary Garden at Sandringham.
