Princess Anne unveils new portrait of King Charles and Queen Camilla

Princess Anne has unveiled a portrait of the King and Queen, created to commemorate their 2024 visit to Jersey.

Her Royal Highness has been in the island, carrying out a number of engagements.

Princess Anne toured the newly-refurbished Jersey Opera House, where she saw how a £12.7 million taxpayer-funded upgrade has restored the historic theatre to its past glory.

JOH Interim CEO Jo Quenault, Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel and Tim Daniels, Director of Jersey Property Holdings, told the Princess about the project to renew the Grade II listed building, which dates back to 1865. 

Whilst there, HRH met volunteer stewards Judith Bennett, Eileen Vowden, Chris Frost,  Avril Du Feu, Margot Kelly and Pip Wallace-Sims.

From the theatre, Princess Anne moved on to the Royal Court building in the Royal Square to unveil a new portrait of King Charles III and Queen Camilla to commemorate the visit of Their Majesties to Jersey in July 2024.

The portrait has been created by Jersey artist Jason Butler, whose portrait of the recently-retired Bailiff Sir Tim Le Cocq was revealed last week.

He was also recently commissioned by Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and Jersey Post to create a portrait of conservationist Gerald Durrell for a stamp issue to mark 100 years since his birth.

The painting depicts the King and Queen in the Royal Square on Monday, 15 July 2024, where Their Majesties attended a special sitting of the island's parliament, the States Assembly and the Royal Court (pictured below).

It shows Charles and Camilla walking among the crowds who braved the rain to witness the first visit of a reigning sovereign since the late Queen Elizabeth in 2005.

Artist Jason Butler said, “I wanted to focus on Their Majesties’ genuine enjoyment of the occasion and the obvious connection they had with the many people who came to be a part of it all. The image of them walking through the rain, smiling and engaging with Islanders, felt like the truest reflection of that day.”

The portrait will be on public display in the Royal Court Building, Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, and Saturday 8 November and Saturday 15 November 10:00 am - 3:00 pm.

Princess Anne later met members and supporters of the Jersey Branch of the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA), which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

HRH was shown a special RAFA 100th anniversary stamp issue and watched a demonstration of a flight simulator by Jersey Air Cadets, Cadet Flight Sergeant Alex Reczynski and Cadet Corporal Edgar Militis.

The day's engagements conclude with the Princess, who is patron of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, attending this year's Durrell Lecture, entitled 'Wild Tales: Celebrating Gerald Durrell’s vision, legacy and impact today'.

Durrell CEO Rebecca Brewer said she was delighted to welcome the Princess Royal to speak at the event, where Dr Lee Durrell will be in conversation with writer and broadcaster Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.