King's artist reveals secrets of royal tours as he's called to historic Australia visit

Amid the colour and chaos of a royal tour the King has called in an old friend to be by his side for his historic visit to .

In the instantaneous age of social media, where images can be forgotten as soon as they appear, Charles has kept alive a tradition he started more than two decades ago.

An accomplished watercolourist himself, the King often chooses and personally pays for an artist to join him on tours as a way of supporting the arts and documenting his overseas visits from a different perspective.

Step forward Warick Fuller, who for the fourth time has accepted a personal invitation from the King to accompany the royals on the visit to Australian tour. Warwick joined the then Prince of Wales when he visited Australia in 2012, 2015 and 2018.

READ MORE:

As preparations took hold for the King’s first visit as monarch Down Under, another handwritten letter found its way to the doorstep of the artist’s tiny gallery in the stunning Blue Mountains region of New South Wales.

Modest Warick said: “In his last letter he asked if I could stand to come along again. I'm thrilled and absolutely honoured to come again, pure excitement.

“It's my fourth tour so you could say I am an old hand. But I'm thrilled and absolutely honoured to come again.”

Despite the owning one of the most impressive art collections in the , Warwick says he is free to paint the subjects and in the style he wants. 

His unique style of creating charming landscapes that often depict the wonder of the Australian Bush has proven such a big hit with Charles that he purchased four of Warick’s paintings from his last tour in 2018, which began at the 2018 on the Gold Coast, then continued north, including Cairns and Arnhem Land, before finishing in Darwin.

But away from the glamour of the iconic locations and excitable crowds that come out to see the royals on such overseas tours, Warwick paints a different picture when the schedule is run with minute precision.

Their relationship has blossomed from beyond Charles owning an impressive 14 portraits of Warick’s, to a warm and genuine friendship extended with personal letters and annual cards.

He said: “It's like a military operation. I've been given a booklet and it's got everything that's happening down to the last minute and I've got to follow that.

“I have got to keep up with it and it's just a moving organism that waits for nobody.”

As well as keeping up with the royal diary and making sure he doesn’t miss his spot in the motorcade, the landscape painter says fleeting light creates daily deadlines.

Warwick jokingly added: “I've painted many pictures where it's before sunrise and it has to be painted before the sun comes up otherwise it changes totally so I've got no option, I might have 15/20 minutes that's it.

“It's the same with the royal tour. If I am working and I know I've got seven minutes before the entourage leaves...or else I am thumbing a ride to the airport!”

It is during these royal tours where Warwick formed a deep connection with the King where they bonded over their love of art, passion for architecture and even a good old British cuppa.

He said: “One of my loveliest conversations with the king was when I was invited into his room before he departed from Cairns on the last tour.

“I came into his room and his man put sandwiches out and a pot of tea and he left and the two of us just sat and talked for about 20 mins and it was amazing because we both have a lot in common so we were talking about the environment and global warming and architecture and subjects like that, then while we talked he poured me a cup of tea which is an amazing thing to think King Charles has poured me a cup of tea.”

Most of Warwick's inspiration comes from his home in the breathtaking Blue Mountains, a rugged region west of Sydney in Australia’s New South Wales. On the balcony of his home, alongside his dog Huey, he shared hand-written personal letters from King Charles.

“He writes more beautifully and heartfelt than some of my friends do. He shows genuine care for you,” he said

Despite being from different worlds, there is a clear and present affection between both men. Warrick had kept hold of one poignant letter prior to the King’s last tour of Australia in 2018.

In a modest and heartfelt handwritten note to Warick, Charles writes: “Incidentally and entirely in confidence, it looks as though we may be coming to Australia in coming November this year...so this is just an advanced warning in case you could bare the thought of coming with us again for a little light painting around the bazaars.

“I will fully understand if the whole thing is too much. We both send you our warmest and heartfelt wishes and much admiration. Yours ever, Charles.”

Warrick told Australia’s Channel 9 A Current Affair: “So you couldn't turn him down after he wrote that to you.”

Each year the King sends him a christmas card, signifying their warmth and mutual respect for one another.

Warwick said: “Maybe (it’s) a genuine friendship and I'd like to think that and it feels that way. I only see him every few years or every couple of years and a couple of communications in between, but it certainly feels like there is something special there.”