Awkward moment ‘modest’ King Charles shoots down Queen Camilla’s ‘gushing’ compliment with three word retort
King Charles and Queen Camilla held a reception on July 9 where they celebrated an exhibition of some of the monarch’s private art collection.
The king’s art is on display at Buckingham Palace this summer. This new display reminded us of an exchange caught on camera where the king was less than impressed with Camilla’s compliments about his artwork.
King Charles’ artwork is put on display
The 72 artworks in The King’s Tour Artists exhibition have been selected from Charles’ own collection of paintings and sketches.
The exhibition includes portraits that have captured his travels around the world over the past four decades.
It is now open to visitors. The exhibition will welcome guests to Buckingham Palace between July 10 to September 28.
In 1985, Charles began paying for artists to travel with him on tour. Since then, 43 artists have been on 70 tours to 95 countries and regions with the monarch.
Charles, who is also a patron of the arts, has gone on to acquire at least one piece from each of the artists for his own collection.
The exhibition even includes a watercolour piece from the king himself, which mirrors one that artist John Ward painted on the Royal Yacht Britannia, on the first tour that Charles took an artist with him.
His Majesty’s love of art
“His Majesty is a keen watercolour artist and a keen patron of the arts,” curator Kate Heard, Senior Curator of Prints and Drawings at the Royal Collection Trust, said, according to People. “It is a celebration of him, working alongside the tour artist.”
Although Charles is now the subject of praise for his work, it seems that previously the monarch, then the Prince of Wales, has struggled to take on board positive feedback.
In fact, one moment caught on camera alongside his wife seemed to make him blush.
The Royal Society of St George Bristol’s social media page shared a series of snaps depicting the king’s love for art.
King Charles’ artwork
The first caption, alongside an image of the then Prince Charles sketching or painting whilst sat by a tree and accompanied by Prince Edward, read: “A lovely picture of HM The King, then Prince of Wales, sketching on the banks of the River Thames at Windsor Castle.
“[On this day] in 1989 accompanied by his brother Prince Edward, now Duke of Edinburgh, and their pet Jack Russells.”
A following image showed a painting by Charles of Balmoral Castle in 1989.
“King Charles is an accomplished watercolour painter, he particularly enjoys painting landscapes including on the Royal estates at Balmoral and Sandringham. Many of his pictures have been sold to raise funds for @KingsTrust charity,” the caption explained.
A third photograph displayed King Charles’ watercolour painting of the terrace at Highgrove House, Gloucestershire.
The caption read: “His Majesty modestly says his pictures are not great art but more than anything represent ‘my particular form of photograph album and, as such, mean a great deal to me’.”
King Charles shoots down Queen Camilla’s praise
In response to the thread, the X account dubbed No Content Camilla shared a clip where the king is complimented for his artwork in a discussion with a gentlemen who claims he has watched a CD album of his artwork.
“I try,” Charles modestly replied to the man’s acknowledgement of his watercolour work.
To that, Camilla added: “You are very good.”
The king, then the Prince of Wales, swiftly retorted: “No I’m not – occasionally one works.”
Camilla continued: “He has been made to do it. He always says he ‘can’t do it anymore.’”
A devoted Camilla, keen on praising Charles continues, but the clip is quite inaudible at that point.
Although, she can be heard insisting: “He works very hard.”
The king would finally give into the praise and admit: “It is very therapeutic.”
Previously the king has admitted whilst watercolour painting: “Painting like this is almost meditative, in a sense that you enter another world.”
