Seven-year-old Olivia Rickards gave King Charles a hand-drawn portrait of him as he arrived for Sunday’s service at St Mary the Virgin church in Flitcham, Norfolk.
The young girl’s artwork depicted the monarch with a smile, dressed in a blue suit and tie, and bore the message: “Dear King Charles, thank you for looking after England, you do a wonderful job.”
Accompanied by her father Terence, Olivia received a handshake from the King on the grounds of his Sandringham estate.
King Charles responded with characteristic humour, quipping: “At least I’m smiling in the picture.”
Since his Coronation in 2023, the King has sat for a number of official portraits, most notably Jonathan Yeo’s striking red oil painting unveiled in 2024, which captured him in his Welsh Guards uniform.That same year, a formal naval photograph replaced images of Elizabeth II in public buildings across the country.
The King and Queen additionally revealed their Coronation state portraits at the National Gallery last year.
King Charles pulled up to the church on Sunday in his £160,000 Lotus Eletre, the all-electric SUV he acquired last year, and was seen entering the grounds with the Rev Canon Dr Paul Williams, Sandringham’s rector.
The church visit capped off a particularly eventful week for the monarch. It began on Monday when he received Andy Burnham at Buckingham Palace, asking the new Prime Minister to form a government during a private audience.
By Wednesday, Charles and the Queen had arrived by horse-drawn carriage at the first-ever RHS Sandringham Flower Show, where they handed out awards.
A passionate environmentalist, the King even showcased plants of his own in a garden he co-created with award-winning designer Catherine MacDonald.
One attendee remarked to King Charles that they shared the same age, prompting the reply: “It gets much worse, doesn’t it?”
On Thursday evening, the royal couple made a memorable entrance at the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Glasgow, stepping out of Doctor Who’s Tardis at the Hydro stadium.
The theatrical arrival drew enthusiastic cheers from the crowd before Charles and the Queen made their way to the Royal Box, where they were seated alongside the newly appointed Prime Minister.
The King, who became patron of the RHS in 2024, has maintained a relentless schedule of public engagements throughout the week, balancing constitutional duties with cultural and sporting occasions across the country.
