King Charles has suffered a major setback in popularity following a decline in public bodies requesting a photo of the monarch, Cabinet Office data showed.
Republic CEO Graham Smith told GB News that he is not surprised that “take up has been low” on the “nonsense” scheme.
After the scheme was initially announced to cost £8million, he praised public bodies for saving “the taxpayer a few million pounds”.
“Spending almost £3m on pictures of Charles when school children are going hungry is an appalling waste of money,” Smith said.
The King’s Portrait Scheme, which aimed to commemorate the Charles’s new reign
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The leader of the anti-monarchy group claimed that a third of the population now want to abolish the monarchy, and nine per cent of the population was excited about the coronation.
“It’s no surprise the take up has been low. Those who run public bodies have more important things to worry about,” He added.
“Support has always been marginally higher in England, so it’s no surprise that’s where most requests have come from.
“If someone wants a picture of Charles on their wall they can easily print one off at their local Snappy Snaps. Spending millions on this is nonsense.”
The Sun revealed that nearly a third of all public bodies requested a portrait, Cabinet Office data showed.
The Portrait Scheme, which aimed to commemorate the King’s new reign by allowing public authorities to apply for a free framed portrait of the monarch, was funded by the government and cost the taxpayer about £2.7million in total.
It was revealed that three per cent of hospitals, 40 out of 1,454, took up the offer for a portrait to replace any they had of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
No hospitals in Wales or Northern Ireland asked for a portrait, while two in Scotland did.
Former Deputy PM Oliver Dowden said the scheme would serve as a “reminder of the example set by our ultimate public servant. “
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In addition, less than a third of schools and 35 of the UK’s 475 universities applied for the framed photo of the King.
While 82.7 per cent of government departments and local authorities in England applied, significantly less equivalent bodies in Wales did, 15.6 per cent.
When the scheme was announced on November 14 2023, former Deputy PM Oliver Dowden said it would serve as a “reminder of the example set by our ultimate public servant. “
After the scheme concluded in August, over 20,500 framed photos were sent out , each reportedly costing £132.
The portrait, which depicts the King in his Royal Navy uniform, was taken by Hugo Burnand, who also photographed King Charles’s coronation and his wedding to Camilla in 2005.
GB News has approached Buckingham Palace for comment.
