King Charles is currently enjoying a gala time in Scotland, preparing for his annual summer break at Balmoral Castle. While he may be eagerly looking forward to his holiday, the king cannot begin his much-needed break without delivering an important message to the nation.
On the morning of August 15th, King Charles is set to share an audio address commemorating the poignant 80th anniversary of VJ Day. He will pay tribute to the "forgotten VJ Day warriors" who showed the world how freedom can and must be protected. This deeply personal message honors those who continued to serve as Europe celebrated the end of the Second World War.
Before we delve into the details of Buckingham Palace's major announcement, the 76-year-old monarch finds himself back in the spotlight over his portraits. This time, however, it is not related to a humanoid robot.
When King Charles was coronated in May 2023, free portraits of the monarch were offered to public bodies, including town halls, universities, and hospitals. However, following the coronation, updates on the distribution of these portraits quietly faded away. A recent bombshell report revealed that over 46,000 public bodies declined the portraits, reigniting debate over this costly initiative.
According to a report by The Guardian, the government initiative spent over $3.7 million offering free portraits to public institutions. Despite the initial enthusiasm, only about 20,000 institutions, or 31%, accepted the portraits, while more than 46,000 turned them down, resulting in a staggering 69% miss rate.
The public's disinterest in the portraits comes at a time when support for the monarchy appears to be waning. A YouGov poll indicates that the share of adults who believe the monarchy is good for Britain dropped from 60% in July 2019 to 51% in March 2024. The government confirmed that fewer than one-third of eligible public institutions requested a portrait, with only 3% of hospitals, 7% of universities, and about one in four Church of England churches attending.
In contrast, national and local government bodies show much greater interest, with 73% placing orders and all 23 Coast Guard organizations taking part. However, the significant number of institutions that chose not to request a portrait raises questions about public sentiment towards the monarchy.
Last month, King Charles became a topic of discussion over one of his portraits created by a humanoid robot. Using advanced AI algorithms, the robot painted the image with a robotic arm, applying oil to a canvas. This unusual creation sparked debate online, with royal fans dubbing it "creepy and soulless" and expressing concerns over AI's potential to overshadow the creativity of human artists.
For the UK and US, VJ Day is observed on different dates. The national commemoration will include a two-minute silence, followed by an aerial display by the Red Arrows and a flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Following the service, the king and queen will attend a reception with World War II veterans.
Ahead of his summer vacation at Balmoral Castle, King Charles made a surprise stop in Ballater, Scotland, to attend to some official royal business. On Tuesday, the king visited the village in Aberdeenshire, just a few miles away from Balmoral. He inspected the new banner of the Clan Farson at Victoria Hall, alongside his Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire, Alexander Manson, and the chieftain of the Clan Farson, Philip Farson.
Engaging with the CommunityWhile in Ballater, Charles also met with members of the Inverallochy Highlanders, who will march the clan chief onto the games field, as well as the pipes and drums of the Scots College from Sydney, Australia. Local residents shared photos of the king's visit on social media, showcasing the warm reception he received in the community.
