Palace releases new portrait of King Charles in full military regalia to mark Armed Forces Day as Queen Camilla takes on greater role this year with tribute to the ‘men and women who protect this country of ours’

To mark Armed Forces Day, a new photo of the King was released today as Queen Camilla thanked the military for the way they ‘support and strengthen our nation’.

The portrait of Charles III was taken in November last year by photographer Hugo Burnand in the Grand Corridor of Windsor Castle and shows him wearing his Field Marshal No. 1 full ceremonial frock coat with medals, sword and decorations.

Buckingham Palace also released a video today from Camilla thanking veterans, servicemen and their families, and paying tribute to the military for ‘all you do to protect this country of ours’.

And Camilla described the armed forces as a ‘source of inspiration, reassurance and pride’. Her message was filmed in the Clarence House Morning Room and produced by the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS), of which she is a patron.

Notably, Camilla is playing a bigger role this year on Armed Forces Day, as her husband continues his treatment for cancer after being diagnosed in February.

On Armed Forces Day last year, the king’s first day as commander-in-chief, he wrote a letter paying tribute to the “selfless service and sacrifice” of British troops.

In a new photo today, Charles wore the collar of the Most Noble Order of the Garter with the Sovereign’s Greater George, as well as the sash of the Royal Victorian Order.

He also held the Star of the Order of the Garter and the Star of the Order of the Thistle, along with the Order of Merit, the Royal Victorian Chain, the Sovereign’s badge of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath and a Medal Bar.

On the table was His Majesty’s Field Marshal’s cap, together with a pair of white gloves and the Field Marshal’s baton.

Camilla wore her Royal Lancers badge, the regiment in which her father, Major Bruce Shand, served and of which she is a Colonel-in-Chief.

On the table next to the Queen is a photograph of the King, taken in the garden of Clarence House, where he wears his Royal Navy uniform as Admiral of the Fleet.

Also on display was a photograph of Camilla’s parents, Major Bruce Shand and Rosalind Cubitt, taken at St Paul’s Church in London’s Knightsbridge on their wedding day of January 2, 1946.

In her message to the military, the Queen said she was “deeply honoured to join you all on Armed Forces Day”.

She added: “Whether in this country or abroad, we celebrate the service of the men and women in our military and thank you all for all you do to protect our country.

“We also remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of stability and peace around the world.”

Camilla then said she was with the king in Normandy on the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

She said: ‘We were reminded of the incredible courage of the Allied land, sea and air forces, whose combined efforts brought about the liberation of Western Europe and to whom we will forever be indebted.

Camilla added: ‘Eight decades later, I know that that same spirit and those same qualities are still very much alive in our Armed Forces, as you carry out your duties amid countless challenges and dangers.

‘In doing so, you are not only protecting these islands, but defending freedoms far beyond these shores. Your determination, tireless efforts and selfless loyalty to each other and to the United Kingdom are as enduring as our gratitude.’

She also paid tribute to families who are “keeping the home fires burning” while members of the armed forces are deployed abroad.

Camilla continued: “As the proud daughter of an army officer, I know something about the impact military life has on your loved ones – you are heroes too.

‘In times of war and in times of peace, seen and unseen, our Armed Forces sustain and strengthen our nation. You are a source of inspiration, reassurance and pride – and I salute you all.’

Camilla referred to her father, Major Shand, whose medals included the Military Cross and Bar.

The Military Cross is an award for operational gallantry awarded to all ranks of the services in recognition of exemplary bravery during active operations against the enemy on land.

Individuals who perform such a brave act again that they earn a second Military Cross receive a silver bar decorated with the crown.

These were awarded to Major Shand during the Second World War in 1940 for his actions in France and in 1942 for his actions in North Africa.

Armed Forces Day is intended to be an annual celebration of personnel, service families, veterans and cadets in the Armed Forces community.

It also marks the culmination of a week of celebrations, which began on Monday, as the public showed their support and appreciation for the armed forces.

The BFBS is an armed forces charity and media organisation that supports the armed forces community around the world with morale-boosting television programmes, radio programmes, films, digital media and news content.

Camilla became patron of the BFBS in 2021 when she was Duchess of Cornwall.

This comes after Prince Harry called on children and young people to talk about their emotions in a new video about grief earlier this week.

The clip was released in the run-up to Armed Forces Day to highlight the ongoing needs of bereaved military children in the UK.

Harry, speaking in his role as global ambassador for Scotty’s Little Soldiers, an organization that supports young people who have lost their parents in the military, shared his own insights after losing his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, at 12 years old age.

“It’s so easy as a kid to think or convince yourself… you convince yourself that the person you’ve lost wants you, or you have to be sad for as long as possible to prove to them that they’re missed,” he said.

‘But then I suddenly realize: no, they probably want me to be happy.’