Two new official portraits of King Charles and Queen Camilla have been released to mark the news that Their Majesties will tour Oceania this fall.
The portraits, taken in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace earlier this year by Millie Pilkington show King Charles and Queen Camilla in their respective decorations and regalia for Australia and New Zealand.
In their Australian portrait, King Charles wears the Sovereign Collar of the Order of Australia and the breast badge.
The Order of Australia is set on a blue ribbon with a stripe of gold mimosas. The badge features an emblem with a golden mimosa with the Coat of Arms of Australia in the centre upon a royal blue background and golden mimosa stalks on either side. It is topped by the Crown of St. Edward’s. The breast badge is the emblem of the Order of Australia.
Upon his accession, King Charles became the Sovereign of the Order of Australia. Prior to 2022, he was a Knight of the Order of Australia.
Queen Camilla, who does not currently have any Australia honours, wears Queen Elizabeth II’s Wattle Brooch. The late Queen Elizabeth received the Wattle Brooch as a gift from the Government of Australia in 1954 during her Commonwealth Tour.
The wattle is the national flower of Australia; the brooch is a platinum-and-diamond piece that was designed by Australian jewellers William Drummond.
In their New Zealand portrait, King Charles wears the neck ribbon of the Order of New Zealand and the breast badge for the New Zealand Order of Merit.
The Order of New Zealand is worn on a white and ochre ribbon and features the Coat of Arms of New Zealand painted on a gold and coloured enamel.
The New Zealand Order of Merit breast badge is a cross painted in gold and white enamel with the Coat of Arms of New Zealand inside green enamel that features the motto of New Zealand: For Merit Tohu Hiranga. At the top of the breast badge is a royal crown.
King Charles wears, in both portraits, his normal row of ribbons and medals. Among them are The King’s Service Medal (which is awarded in New Zealand), the New Zealand Commemorative Medal, and New Zealand Armed Forces Award.
Queen Camilla was named an Additional Member of the Order of New Zealand on 5 June 2023, as part of the King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours List. The Queen received her designation for services to New Zealand.
In their official portrait, Queen Camilla wears the Order of New Zealand badge on a red ochre ribbon pinned to her chest.
Buckingham Palace announced this week that the King and Queen will undertake an official visit to Australia and Samoa in October to coincide with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa.
Following medical advice, the King and Queen will not include New Zealand in their itinerary. More details on their upcoming Oceania visit can be found here.
