Striking New Royal Photo Shows King Charles Sitting Alone Recording a Message from Buckingham Palace, It was taken in Buckingham Palace’s 18th Century Room

The royal family just released a rare portrait of King Charles amid his cancer treatment.

This week, His Majesty, 75, debuted a recorded message that was played during the 2024 Royal Maundy Service. Although the recording was audio only, the royal family recently dropped a portrait of King Charles that was taken during the speech. The photo shows the king sitting alone at his desk in Buckingham Palace’s 18th Century Room, with a microphone and a recorder placed in front of him.

King Charles was wearing a navy-blue pinstripe suit, along with a white shirt, a blue tie and a coordinating pocket square. In the voice recording, he said, “The Maundy Service has a very special place in my heart. We need and benefit greatly from those who extend  The king continued, “We should serve and care for each other.”

The king couldn’t attend the Royal Maundy Service due to his ongoing treatment. Therefore, Queen Camilla, 76, stepped in for her husband and made history as the first consort to lead such a historic ceremony. According to the Daily Mail, this was “the most significant royal event” for the king to miss during his break from royal duties.

During the service, Queen Camilla distributed “Maundy money” (or ceremonial coins) in place of the king, which, according to the royal family website, “commemorates Jesus washing the feet of the Apostles at the Last Supper.” Glad to see the king is smiling through these difficult times.