The colourful and detailed artwork has been created by Andrew Jamieson, an expert in heraldic art, calligraphy and manuscript illustration who has been a professional artist for 40 years.
Jamieson is a brother of the Art Workers’ Guild, and the King is an honorary member of the guild.
Jamieson’s original artwork for the invitation was hand-painted in watercolour and gouache, and the printed version will feature gold foil detailing.
Buckingham Palace said: “Central to the design is the motif of the Green Man, an ancient figure from British folklore, symbolic of spring and rebirth, to celebrate the new reign. The shape of the Green Man, crowned in natural foliage, is formed of leaves of oak, ivy and hawthorn, and the emblematic flowers of the United Kingdom.”
Other details include rosemary for remembrance, a selection of British wildflowers, and wildlife including a wren, a robin, a butterfly, and a bee.
“Flowers appear in groupings of three, signifying The King becoming the third monarch of his name.”
Green Man detail
Jamieson described the Royal commission as “the opportunity of a lifetime”.
“To have been invited to play a small part in such an historic event in our nation’s history has been an incredible honour and the opportunity of a lifetime, the pinnacle of my career.
“My hope is that those who see the invitation will get as much joy from it as I did creating it. I wish Their Majesties every good wish for their upcoming Coronation celebration as they begin this new journey together.”
The invitations, also significant due to the use of 'Queen Camilla' for the first time, are being printed on recycled card by an as-yet-unnamed printer.
A number of specialist fine printers hold Royal Warrants with the former HRH Prince of Wales and the late Queen Elizabeth II, including Barnard & Westwood, Colston Graphics (trading as Leighton Printing Co), Mount Street Printers & Stationers, Smythson and The Wren Press.
Buckingham Palace said that the invitations would be issued “in due course” to the more than 2,000 guests set to attend the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey on 6 May.
The invitations are the first piece of high-profile print to be revealed for the event, which is likely to generate a significant amount of printed collateral including special supplements and magazines, as well as flags, bunting, street décor and merchandise.
Royal Warrant holders can continue to use the Royal Arms for up to two years after the death of the grantor, “provided there is no significant change within the company concerned”.
The Royal Household reviews warrant grants upon a change of the reigning sovereign.
