When Buckingham Palace announced the King's return to public-facing duties, his staff were keen to stress he still has cancer, he's still receiving treatment and his diary would be adapted accordingly. We were told the number of engagements would be 'carefully calibrated' and coordinated in 'close consultation' with his medical team.
The painting by artist Jonathan Yeo followed four sittings over two years and captured on canvas the King's transition from Prince of Wales to monarch, represented in the very red painting by a butterfly hovering over his shoulder. On Wednesday, at the service of dedication for the Order of the British Empire, the King joined two thousand of those honoured at St Paul's Cathedral.