Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Cabinet Office press release entitled More public institutions can apply for a portrait of The King, published on 12 May 2024, what the take-up rate of the free official portrait of the King is amongst (a) Church of England churches, (b) job centres, (c) NHS hospitals and (d) universities.

As is usual practice following accession, an Official Portrait has been taken of His Majesty The King to mark the start of the new Reign, for use in public buildings and for other official purposes. His Majesty’s Government is using this portrait for the Official Portrait Scheme, announced by the Deputy Prime Minister at the time in April last year.

His Majesty The King’s Portrait Scheme is an ongoing government scheme. We intend to disclose the information requested into the public domain when the scheme is complete and we have the full picture on the volumes requested and delivered and the associated costs, rather than providing provisional data at this stage.

The scheme was open to new applications until 15th August and validation, portrait production and portrait delivery will complete in mid October.