Canada still hasn't released its official portrait of King Charles

The federal government still has not released an official Canadian portrait of the King, 550 days after Queen Elizabeth's death and his accession to the throne — a delay that has left some monarchists anxious, given Charles's battle with cancer.

It's customary for the federal Department of Canadian Heritage to produce a uniquely Canadian portrait of the King — a photo of the head of state that can be hung in official venues and in the homes and businesses of royal admirers.

The government website where people can access these portraits still offers one of Elizabeth and another of the late sovereign with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, who died three years ago.

Canadian Heritage, the department that's responsible for all things royal in this country, has partnered with the Monarchist League of Canada in the past to distribute prints of the portrait to all interested Canadians. The posters are free but shipping fees apply.

Robert Finch, chairman of the Monarchist League, said in an interview with CBC News he hasn't heard anything from the government about when Charles's image will be rolling off the presses.

«It's been a year and a half since the accession, almost a year since the Coronation. A lot of time has passed and there's still no portrait,» Finch said.

«Maybe I'm too simplistic or I'm missing something, but have a picture taken, get it done. I don't know why we need to complicate things. I can go over there with my phone if it's necessary.»

Finch said his organization distributed «thousands» of portraits of the Queen in 2022, the year of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations and her death.

He said there's «tremendous pent-up demand» for the King's portrait and his organization receives daily inquiries from both its members