King Charles faces backlash over costly portrait scheme amid low demand
- King Charles's Portrait Scheme has received low participation from public bodies, with less than one third of schools and a small percentage of hospitals taking part.
- The scheme has been criticized for its financial impact, costing taxpayers approximately £2.7 million.
- The low demand indicates declining support for the monarchy, emphasizing that public bodies have more pressing concerns.
In the United Kingdom, King Charles has faced significant criticism due to a decline in public bodies requesting portraits under his newly launched Portrait Scheme. The scheme, announced on November 14, 2023, aimed to provide free framed portraits of the monarch to public authorities as a way to commemorate his reign. However, Cabinet Office data indicated a lukewarm reception, revealing that less than a third of UK schools and a mere three percent of hospitals opted to participate. This has raised questions regarding the allocation of resources when essential services are under strain, especially in a pressing climate where some school children are reportedly going hungry. The Portrait Scheme reportedly cost the taxpayer £2.7 million, causing some, including Republic CEO Graham Smith, to label the initiative a