Princess Anne unveiled a striking new portrait of King Charles at the Scottish Parliament this week.
The photograph, officially commissioned, will now greet thousands of visitors in the Parliament’s Main Hall.
THE NEW KING CHARLES PORTRAIT
The image, taken by photographer Millie Pilkington in 2024, captures the King in the Sunken Garden at Balmoral Castle.
He wears a kilt in the King Charles III tartan and holds a handcrafted stick gifted to him at the Mey Highland Games, according to Town and Country.
PRINCESS ANNE AND THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT
Alison Johnstone, the presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament, praised the significance of the moment.
“It was a pleasure to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal. The portrait will hang in Parliament, a reminder of His Majesty’s love of Scotland and his connection to its people.”
THE BALMORAL GARDENS
Pilkington described photographing the monarch in Scotland as a rare privilege. “It was an immense honour to be asked to take an official portrait of His Majesty.
The Balmoral gardens highlight the King’s warmth and his deep connection to nature and to Scotland.”
King Charles has long cherished Balmoral, a royal estate closely linked to the family’s heritage. He continues to spend time there with his children and grandchildren, according to Hello Magazine.
KING CHARLES AND SOUTH AFRICA
This week, Prince William visited his father in the Highlands for a private stay. For South Africans, the portrait reflects more than just royal tradition.
King Charles, who visited South Africa several times, has spoken openly about his admiration of the country’s natural beauty and the resilience of its people.
His environmental work resonates strongly, especially in conservation communities across Southern Africa.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ROYAL PORTRAITS
Royal portraits hold symbolic power. They travel across nations, enter institutions, and remind citizens of continuity.
This latest image reinforces both King Charles’s Scottish roots and his global reach, with messages of identity and unity.