On the second anniversary of their Coronation, King Charles III and Queen Camilla returned to the National Gallery to mark the completion of a two-year, transformative redevelopment of the Sainsbury Wing. The royal visit, steeped in symbolism, bridged past and present, underscoring the Gallery’s enduring role as a cornerstone of Britain’s cultural life.
Initially opened in 1991 by Queen Elizabeth II, the Sainsbury Wing has undergone meticulous refurbishment, enhancing its façade, foyer, and mezzanine to create a more welcoming entrance for the Gallery’s millions of annual visitors. Their Majesties unveiled a new stone inscription at the base of the Sainsbury Wing staircase, positioned beneath the original 1991 dedication—a poignant nod to continuity across generations.
The revamped wing will open to the public on 10 May, coinciding with C C Land: The Wonder of Art, a landmark rehang of the National Gallery’s collection. This ambitious display, spanning 1,000 works from the 13th to the 20th centuries, redefines the Western European painting tradition.
During their tour, the King and Queen pause before Mantegna’s Triumphs of Caesar (mid-1480s–1506), on loan from the Royal Collection and now a centrepiece of Room 12. They were joined by young participants from Articulation, the Gallery’s national oracy initiative, reflecting Their Majesties’ commitment to fostering engagement with the arts.
In Central Hall, the royal couple unveiled the newly commissioned Coronation State Portraits by Peter Kuhfeld and Paul S. Benney. These striking works will remain on public view at the Gallery until 5 June, before taking their place in Buckingham Palace’s Throne Room.
The visit concluded in the Roden Centre for Creative Learning, the UK’s largest dedicated gallery education space—a testament to the National Gallery’s mission to inspire future generations.
Sir Gabriele Finaldi, Director of the National Gallery, remarked: “We were deeply honoured to welcome Their Majesties on this momentous day. The Sainsbury Wing’s renewal, paired with our collection’s reimagined display, reaffirms the Gallery as a living, evolving institution that honours its past while embracing the future.”
As the doors prepare to reopen, the National Gallery stands not just as a keeper of masterpieces, but as a dynamic space where history, art, and public engagement converge—a vision now etched, quite literally, in stone.
Photo: Image: Their Majesties, The King and Queen reopen the National Gallery Sainsbury Wing © His Majesty King Charles III, 2025. Photograph: The National Gallery, London