The Governor of Gibraltar took to Twitter to share a bittersweet moment, as officials took down the official portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and replaced it with one of the new King. 

On 16th March, the Governor’s official account shared this tweet: “The official portraits of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at The Convent and No 6 Convent Place have been replaced with temporary portraits of His Majesty the King and the Queen Consort. Permanent Official Portraits will be displayed in the summer following the Coronation”.

Attached to the post, a picture featuring the current Governor, Vice Admiral Sir David Steel, and the Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, posing under the new portrait, which appears to have been taken on the occasion of the State Banquet for the State Visit from President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa. 

As mentioned in the post, this portrait is a temporary solution, and an official one will be displayed after the Coronation, which is set to take place on the 6th of May. 

It is believed, based on tradition, that the first official portrait that will be handed out for this purpose will be centred around the Coronation, and it will probably feature King Charles III and Queen Camilla in their full regalia.

This imagery change will involve not only Governors’ residences in the countries that have the British Monarch as their head of State, but also in Embassies, Consulates and other diplomatic entities of countries of which King Charles is the head of state all around the world. 

Six months on, and the last reminders of Queen Elizabeth II’s seven decades long reign are slowly being replaced by images marking the beginning of the new era, in a series of moments that are sure to be bittersweet for everyone involved.