In the United Kingdom, state portraits have been commissioned of several monarchs which usually depict them in their coronation robes and associated with symbols of rule. These are usually large full-length paintings, which show the monarch surrounded by a crown, orb and sceptre. The earliest example of such portraits in the Royal Collection is that of James VI and I by Paul van Somer. Similar portraits have also been commissioned for consorts that have been crowned alongside the monarchs. The most recent coronation state portraits are those of Charles III and Camilla, which were unveiled in 2025. All paintings are in the medium of oil on canvas.
Monarchs Subject Portrait Artist Year unveiled Dimensions Details James VI and I Paul van Somer 1620 227.0 cm × 149.5 cm (89.4 in × 58.9 in) Charles I Anthony van Dyck 1636 248.0 cm × 153.6 cm (97.6 in × 60.5 in) Charles II John Michael Wright 1676 281.9 cm × 239.2 cm (111.0 in × 94.2 in) James II and VII Godfrey Kneller 1684 245.6 cm × 144.1 cm (96.6 in × 56.7 in) see article William III and II Godfrey Kneller 1690 243.8 cm × 147.7 cm (96.0 in × 58.1 in) Mary II Godfrey Kneller 1690 223.2 cm × 148.8 cm (87.9 in × 58.6 in) Anne Godfrey Kneller 1702 109.0 cm × 134.0 cm (42.9 in × 52.8 in) George I Godfrey Kneller 1719 240.3 cm × 148.0 cm (94.6 in × 58.3 in) George II Charles Jervas 1727 219.7 cm × 128.3 cm (86.5 in × 50.5 in) see article George III Allan Ramsay 1762 249.5 cm × 163.2 cm (98.2 in × 64.3 in) see article George IV Thomas Lawrence 1821 295.4 cm × 205.4 cm (116.3 in × 80.9 in) see article William IV William Beechey 1832 214 cm × 150 cm (84 in × 59 in) see article Victoria John Hayter 1838 128.3 cm × 102.9 cm (50.5 in × 40.5 in) see article Edward VII Luke Fildes 1902 265.7 cm × 170.1 cm (104.6 in × 67.0 in) see article George V Luke Fildes 1912 279.8 cm × 183.3 cm (110.2 in × 72.2 in) see article George VI Gerald Kelly 1945 273.8 cm × 182.9 cm (107.8 in × 72.0 in) see article Elizabeth II Herbert James Gunn 1954 244.5 cm × 152.9 cm (96.3 in × 60.2 in) see article Charles III Peter Kuhfeld 2025 226.4 cm × 155.8 cm (89.1 in × 61.3 in) see article
Edward VIII abdicated before his coronation could take place so never received a coronation portrait.
Consorts Subject Portrait Artist Year unveiled Dimensions Details Mary of Modena Godfrey Kneller 1687 219 cm × 141 cm (86.2 in × 55.5 in) Caroline of Ansbach Charles Jervas 1727 218.5 cm × 127.6 cm (86.0 in × 50.2 in) see article Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Allan Ramsay 1762 249.0 cm × 161.6 cm (98.0 in × 63.6 in) see article Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen John Simpson 1832 272 cm × 178.5 cm (107 in × 70.3 in) see article Alexandra of Denmark Luke Fildes 1905 265.3 cm × 170.6 cm (104.4 in × 67.2 in) see article Mary of Teck William Llewellyn 1912 279.9 cm × 183.7 cm (110.2 in × 72.3 in) see article Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon Gerald Kelly 1945 276.0 cm × 184.7 cm (108.7 in × 72.7 in) see article Camilla Shand Paul S. Benney 2025 226.4 cm × 155.8 cm (89.1 in × 61.3 in) see article
Spouses not painted Not all monarchs' spouses received a coronation portrait, usually because they were not themselves crowned. Male consorts (i.e. husbands of queens regnant) do not traditionally share their wives' rank so are not crowned as kings, hence there are no coronation portraits of: George of Denmark and Norway, husband of Anne.Green, David (1970). Queen Anne. p. 34. London: Collins. ISBN 0-00-211693-6.Gregg, Edward (2001). Queen Anne. p. 34. New Haven and London: Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-09024-2. Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, husband of Victoria (whom in any case she did not marry until after her coronation). Philip of Greece and Denmark, husband of Elizabeth II.Brandreth, Gyles (2004), Philip and Elizabeth: Portrait of a Marriage, p. 263. London: Century, ISBN 978-0-71-266103-4
Some kings' wives did not attain the status of queen consort: Anne Hyde, first wife of James II and VII, who died before his accession.Weir, Alison (2008). Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy. p. 259. London: Vintage Books. ISBN 978-0-0995-3973-5. Sophia Dorothea of Celle, wife of George I, whom he divorced before his accession. Wallis Simpson, wife of Edward VIII, who could not marry him until after he had abdicated. Diana Spencer, first wife of Charles III, who both divorced him and died before his accession.
Others were recognised as queen but were not crowned: Henrietta Maria of France, wife of Charles I, was a Catholic so could not be anointed or crowned by the Church of England. Catherine of Braganza, wife of Charles II, married him after his coronation and was also barred due to Catholicism. Caroline of Brunswick, wife of George IV, was physically barred from attending the coronation of her husband (who had attempted to divorce her) and died shortly afterwards.Plowden, p. 276; Robins, pp. 308–309 However, Thomas Lawrence, George's chosen artist, had already made two other portraits of her: Caroline, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte (1801) and Princess Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel (1804).
References Citations
Sources
Plowden, Alison (2005). Caroline and Charlotte: Regency Scandals 1795–1821. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing. . Robins, Jane (2006). Rebel Queen: The Trial of Queen Caroline. Simon & Schuster. .
External links A History of State Portraits at the Royal Collection Trust website