Brighton man designs Queen Camilla cypher used at King's coronation

Professor Ewan Clayton, who went to the same school as Camilla, created the ornate artwork which is used to show her official position.

It was widely seen during King Charles's coronation earlier this month.

Now, as Ewan puts his works on display, he has told how he came to design the monogram and how honoured he was to be picked to do it.

Ewan, who is based in Brighton, said: “I feel that it is really nice to have done a piece of work which will go down in history. Several generations of people will see it.

“I was quite nervous about doing it because it’s quite high profile but I now feel very honoured.

Queen Camilla's Royal Cypher (Image: Ewan Clayton | Tim Noad)

“I didn’t realise quite how widely it would be used at the coronation. My sister was sending me messages every time she saw it.”

Ewan, a professor at the Royal Drawing School, was picked to create the cypher and collaborated with friend Tim Noad, a heraldic painter who designed the crown in the design.

Calligrapher Ewan also shares links to Camilla having attended the same school, Dumbrells boarding school in Ditchling.

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He said the former Duchess of Cornwall, who was born in Plumpton, would have been aware of the heritage of calligraphy in the South Downs village. Camilla was shown all the potential designs during the drawing process and “wanted hers to look different from the King’s”.

Edward Johnston, who designed the typeface used for the London Underground, lived in Ditchling and is considered one of the most prominent figures in modern calligraphy.

Queen Camilla at the coronation with the cypher embroidered on her dress

The design for Camilla's cypher includes the letters C, for Camilla, and R, regina, intertwined and topped with a crown.

As well as being used at events such as the coronation, Camilla’s cypher will be used on cards and gifts as well as traditionally on crosses and wreathes laid for remembrance events.

Ewan is currently displaying some of his sketches as part of the Artists Open House trail in Brighton.

Other works, including drawings by some of Ewan's students, can be found in the Open House in Sillwood Road.