King Charles, accompanied by David Attenborough, attended the premiere of the nature documentary “Ocean” on May 6, 2025, at the Royal Festival Hall in London. The King donned a black bow tie and suit for the occasion, stepping onto the blue carpet in alignment with the film’s theme of marine conservation. Among the notable guests were Felicity Jones, Geri Halliwell-Horner, and Cara Delevingne.
“Ocean,” set to be released in cinemas before airing on NatGeo and streaming on Disney+ and Hulu, aims to tell the story of restoring Earth’s interconnected waters. King Charles, a devoted advocate for sustainability and environmental protection, has long been committed to safeguarding nature and the oceans. His dedication dates back to a speech delivered on February 19, 1970, addressing the threats posed by oil and plastic pollution in the sea.
Earlier in the day, King Charles engaged in private meetings at Buckingham Palace with Governor-General of Canada Mary Simon and Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa and First Lady Angela Lavinia Valbonesi Acosta. While Queen Camilla was not present at the film premiere, she was actively participating in royal duties. The Queen joined in the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of VE Day by assisting 5-year-old Harrison Machin in planting the final poppies at the Tower of London, symbolizing the end of World War II.
The royal couple later unveiled new portraits at the Central Hall of the National Gallery in London to mark the second anniversary of their coronation. King Charles’ portrait, painted by artist Peter Kuhfeld, captures him in the Throne Room of St. James’s Palace wearing his naval uniform and Robe of State, reminiscent of his coronation service in 2023. Kuhfeld, who has a longstanding relationship with the King, expressed his honor in creating the official Coronation State Portrait.
The painting, which captures both the human and regal essence, upholds the tradition of royal portraiture. His Majesty generously devoted his time with his characteristic grace and attention to detail, during which we discussed various aspects of the artwork.
The portrait of The Queen was created by artist Paul S. Benney, featuring her adorned in an ivory silk Bruce Oldfield coronation gown embellished with silver and gold embroidered floral patterns. The painting also showcases Camilla’s Robe of Estate and her coronation crown, known as Queen Mary’s Crown.
Benney meticulously painted The Queen in the Garden Room at Clarence House, the official London residence of the King and Queen.
The artist expressed some sadness as the sessions for this important commission concluded, noting, “After spending nearly a year working in a temporary studio at Clarence House, I have fond memories of engaging conversations with Her Majesty on a wide range of topics, often filled with fascination and humor.”
Benney elaborated on his approach to the painting, stating, “My aim in this commission was to honor the grand and historical significance of the coronation imagery, while also portraying the humanity and compassion of an extraordinary individual undertaking an extraordinary role.”
