Yahoo Sports Coronation portrait with a nod to the King’s great passions unveiled in Dubai
A portrait of the King to commemorate his Coronation has been unveiled in Dubai as the artist hailed the “unification” of the UK and the United Arab Emirates.
Sacha Jafri, a contemporary British artist who lives in Dubai, painted the work – titled King Charles III Coronation – during the monarch’s crowning ceremony celebrations at the British embassy in the UAE.
He said the painting “stands for the unification of not only the UK and the UAE, but also the whole of humanity”.
The work, which will be presented as a gift to Dubai’s ruling Al Maktoum family this month, was commissioned by the British embassy to commemorate the King’s Coronation.
It includes a large portrait of the King wearing the Imperial State Crown with the slogan “Defender of All Faiths” written above him.
There are also various elements symbolising the King’s multi-faith and environmental causes along with the Prince’s Trust.
Other famous faces in the work are Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Camilla, Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, the Prince and Princess of Wales and Prince George.
Jafri said that the UK and the UAE have “like-minded visions for the future of our world” and that his “historic and hope-filled painting” aims to depict that.
He told Esquire Middle East: “As a British artist who has lived in Dubai for over 10 years now, with a long-standing personal relationship with both Charles and William … it is a particular privilege for me to be able to unite my two favourite countries in the world.”
The artist placed particular emphasis on the King’s environmental credentials as Dubai will be hosting Cop28 in November.
He said: “The world sits on a knife edge with discord, disconnection, misunderstanding, and catastrophic climate, food security, humanitarian and sustainability issues.
“But I feel that Cop28 will be a turning point for change towards a better future for the children of our world, and I hope in the most heartfelt way possible, that this painting will reflect that change, as well as be a catalyst for its necessity.”
Artwork ‘very personal to me’
Jafri once held the world record for creating the largest-ever painting on canvas, with Journey of Humanity which he unveiled in Dubai in 2020.
He has previously been commissioned by the King to create portraits of the “most influential living Muslims” for the Mosaic Initiative, a charity set up by the then Prince of Wales in 2007.
Among the artist’s celebrity collectors are Barack Obama, the former US president; Bill Gates; Leonardo DiCaprio; David Beckham; and George Clooney. He generally donates proceeds from the sale of his works to charity.
The latest creation is intended as a gift for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai.
The British Royal family had close ties to the Sheikh before a judge ruled in 2021 that he had ordered his ex-wife’s phone to be hacked.
He had previously gifted the late Queen racehorses and was a frequent guest at Royal Ascot, even travelling to the races with the monarch in her horse-drawn carriage.
The King first met the Sheikh on a visit to the UAE with Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1989.
He has since returned to the country four times, most recently in 2016.
Mr Jafri said: “To be able to capture King Charles III’s philosophies, concerns, passions, and personal visions of the past, present, and future, as a gift ... to the ruling family of Dubai, is very personal to me, and is most certainly a highlight of my career.”
The painting close up
One of the key aspects of the painting is the “Defender of All Faiths” written above the King’s figure - used by the artist to celebrate the multiculturalism of both the UK and the UAE.
Embracing and supporting a multi-faith culture is something the King has been a lifelong and outspoken advocate for.
There are also hearts and a circle around the religious insignias of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Sikhism as well as the Chinese Yin-yang symbol of opposite but interconnected forces.
Penny Mordaunt, the Leader of the House of Commons, impressed a global audience of billions by holding the 8lb (3.6kg) Sword of State aloft for 51 minutes of the King’s two-hour ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
Afterwards, said she found the whole experience “humbling” and revealed that she took painkillers beforehand.
She is pictured in this portrait holding it aloft in her glamorous Coronation outfit. She was the first woman in history to perform the important role at a monarch’s crowning.
The signs of the King’s lifelong advocacy and passion for environmentalism and sustainability are rife in Jafri’s portrait, from the “Economy Circular” graphic to the appearance of recycling bins, as well as renewable energy sources such as wind turbines and solar panels.
The King has been an outspoken champion for the protection of the natural world for more than 50 years.
The miniature portraits of the late Queen Elizabeth II in the corner of Jafri’s painting indicate the new King’s lifelong devotion to his mother, the longest-reigning British monarch.
He included a picture of her crowned at her Coronation in 1953 and another of the late monarch wearing a crown at the State Opening of Parliament in 2016, when she was 90 years old.
As head of the Commonwealth, the King has spoken of the way the 56 member states continue to “amaze and inspire” him.
In his first Commonwealth Day address as monarch this year, he issued a rallying cry for the organisation to “unite and be bold” in order to reach its “near-boundless potential” as a force for good.
The King’s beloved Prince’s Trust charity has helped over one million young people in the UK since he founded it as the Prince of Wales in 1976.
The charity, which is very close to the monarch’s heart, has helped disadvantaged under-30s in the country by providing them with business grants, education and training.
