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London chef Taz Khan, who holds a British royal honor, said King Charles III has a special affection for the Turkish people, as a portrait of the monarch made entirely from waste materials went on display at the COP31 climate summit.
The portrait, titled "King of Sustainability," is on show at the U.K. pavilion at the summit in Antalya as Britain marks the king’s 78th birthday.
"His Majesty has a special love for the Turkish people. He carries that love in his heart," Khan said. He added that the king was deeply saddened and emotionally affected by the Feb. 6 earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaras.
Khan said he had the chance to meet the king and prepared the portrait as a gift. He said it was made from materials usually treated as waste.
"We found value in waste. We used petals and flowers that had fallen in the royal parks," he said.
The frame was made from a tree on the king’s estate, and the work uses only natural materials, Khan said, which is why he named it "King of Sustainability."
He presented the portrait to the king at Buckingham Palace. It is owned by the Royal Household and the Royal Collection Trust. Khan said he asked the king for permission before bringing it to Antalya.
The portrait was designed in London. Besides the frame, it was made with fallen flower petals from royal parks and paints made from coffee grounds. It is being shown abroad for the first time in Antalya.
The pavilion is also displaying the first Turkish edition of the king’s book "Harmony," which Khan said inspired the portrait.
He described the book as a summary of the king’s 50 years of work to protect the planet, his thinking on sustainability and his views on how people should live in harmony with nature.
Khan said he was deeply moved when he read it and obtained the king’s permission to have it translated into Turkish. The translation is finished and available to readers. The Turkish title is "Ahenk: Dunyamiza Yeni Bir Bakis," which translates roughly as "Harmony: A New Look at Our World."
Khan pointed to a special edition displayed behind him, made using traditional Ottoman handicrafts. It features ebru, the centuries-old Turkish art of paper marbling, which is part of the country’s cultural heritage.
"What you see behind me is a special edition prepared using traditional Ottoman crafts," he said.
Khan said two copies of the special edition were made. One will be presented to Emine Erdogan, the wife of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the other to King Charles. He said he believes the king will be very moved and will greatly enjoy a gift decorated with Turkish traditions.
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