Britain’s hospitals and universities turned their backs on a free image of their own King in numbers that have shocked even seasoned observers — and Kemi Badenoch has a blunt explanation: public sector managers paralysed by the fear of causing offence.

The numbers tell a damning story. Between November 2023 and August 2024, more than 20,500 framed portraits were made available free of charge to eligible public institutions across the UK under the His Majesty’s Portrait Scheme — a programme that reportedly cost taxpayers £2.7million in total. However, fewer than one in three institutions bothered to claim one. Among hospitals the indifference was near-total, with a take-up rate of just 2.8 per cent. Universities were barely more enthusiastic at 7.4 per cent.

Faith institutions and schools showed considerably more appetite. Almost three in ten schools participated, and roughly a quarter of Church of England churches claimed a portrait. At the other extreme, every single Coroner’s Court in the country took one.

‘Someone might be offended’

Mrs Badenoch, the Conservative leader, told GB News’ Chopper’s Political Podcast, the dismal figures reflected a culture of unnecessary anxiety among public sector managers.

She said: “There are many people who worry about things they don’t need to be worried about.

“Somebody might be offended. So let’s not let’s not do that.

“The fact is, we are a constitutional monarchy.”

She added: “The King is the best of our brand. The Royal Family is the best of our brand.

“People look at them in awe. I think that they do so much good in this country.

“I’m very glad that it is the King and not Keir Starmer who is Head of State, quite frankly.

“And that’s something that we should be proud of. But we keep being told ‘let’s keep this repressed, that we might upset some people.

“‘Someone’s worried about colonialism, someone’s worried about racism or white privilege.

“All of this rubbish needs to stop. And you get people who think, well, I don’t want to have a row, so I won’t have a portrait of the King.”

Badenoch checks up on Tory councils

The Conservative leader — who displays one of the portraits in her own office — said she planned to audit every Tory-controlled council to ensure none had declined to participate.

She added: “If you don’t treasure your values, if you don’t enforce limits, if you don’t say know, that’s not good enough, then things get watered down.

“And the Conservative Party, which I’m leading, is one where I want us to be brave and proud and, you know, stand up for those values.”

Cabinet Office response

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “His Majesty The King’s Portrait Scheme was a voluntary programme offering a free, framed portrait to any eligible public institution that requested one.

“Under the scheme, more than 20,500 portraits were given out across the United Kingdom to celebrate the new reign.

“Portraits of HM The King hang in Government departments across Whitehall and in Downing Street.”

Officials pointed out that the figures may not tell the full story — institutions that already had a portrait of the monarch hanging on their walls would not have appeared in the scheme’s numbers even if they had no objection to displaying one.