King Charles attended a Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving in London honouring the late Anglo-Irish art restorer, collector and interior designer Alec Cobbe. The King was photographed at the service in mourning clothes, joining fellow associates of Mr Cobbe at St James's Church on Piccadilly to remember his work in preserving Britain's historic houses and collections.
Court Circular confirms attendance
The Court Circular, the official record of the Royal Family's engagements, confirmed the King's attendance on Tuesday. It stated: "The King, Patron, the Cobbe Collection Trust, was present at the Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving for Mr Alec Cobbe (Founder) which was held at St James's Church, 197 Piccadilly, London W1, this afternoon."
Mr Cobbe died on March 31, 2026, aged 81, following a career that saw him become one of the most respected figures in the world of historic interiors, art restoration and collecting. An artist, designer, restorer and collector, he was well-known for his work transforming the way paintings, furniture and historic artefacts were displayed in some of Britain's most important country houses.
Career highlights and legacy
Among his best-known achievements was his work on the Clive Museum at Powis Castle, where he designed the display cases and handwritten labels. Mr Cobbe's career developed organically from his work as an art restorer. Speaking to the Financial Times about his progression into art hanging and interior design, he explained how he became increasingly frustrated when expertly restored paintings were placed against backgrounds that diminished their impact.
"It started with me restoring pictures," he said. "And then you would see the finished picture being framed up and the curator would take it off and hang it on a wholly unsympathetic background colour." He recalled thinking: "Why the hell did I spend all that time on the picture for it to be killed by the hanging of the thing?"
That experience led him to become involved in presenting paintings and, ultimately, in broader interior design. "It was purely an empirical process," he said. "And once you're in the backgrounds of pictures, you're then getting into interior design."
Royal connections
Mr Cobbe's expertise made him a sought-after adviser and collaborator among Britain's leading historic properties. Interior designer Remy Renzullo, who worked with Cobbe on a restoration and rehanging project at Castle Howard, described him as an exceptional figure. "In an industry saturated by self-proclaimed experts, Alec Cobbe stands out as the rare expert who truly is one," Renzullo told the Financial Times.
Mr Cobbe's relationship with the Royal Family extended beyond his professional work. He was often asked to create illustrations for royal occasions, including an invitation for Prince William's Out-of-Africa-themed 21st birthday party. He would later produce other designs for King Charles. The monarch previously wrote a lengthy foreword for an exhibition of Mr Cobbe's work held at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
The King's attendance at the memorial service was also tied to his position as Patron of the Cobbe Collection Trust, the organisation established to preserve and promote Mr Cobbe's legacy. Mr Cobbe was appointed as a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO), just one month before his death.
