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King praises David Hockney’s ‘beautiful’ yellow Crocs

David Hockney in a wheelchair - Aaron Chown/AFP via Getty Images
David Hockney in a wheelchair - Aaron Chown/AFP via Getty Images

He has always favoured brogues or formal lace ups himself.

But the King appeared delighted to see that David Hockney, the renowned British pop artist, had opted to attend a luncheon at Buckingham Palace on Thursday wearing bright yellow Crocs.

“Your yellow galoshes!” His Majesty remarked in admiration. “Beautifully chosen.”

Hockney was among members of the prestigious Order of Merit invited to their annual Buckingham Palace lunch, the first of King Charles’s reign.

The order now includes six new appointments, chosen by Queen Elizabeth II shortly before her death: Sir David Adjaye, the award-winning architect, Prof Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, a professor of nursing, Baroness Floella Benjamin, the broadcaster and actress, Prof Margaret MacMillan, a Canadian historian, Sir Paul Nurse, a geneticist and cell biologist, and Dr Venki Ramakrishnan, a molecular biologist.

King Charles chats to David Hockney - Aaron Chown/PA
King Charles chats to David Hockney - Aaron Chown/PA

Created in 1902 by Edward VII, the Order of Merit is the personal gift of the monarch.

There can only be 24 living members at any one time, making it a highly exclusive collection of figures from the arts, sciences, culture and military.

Current members include David Hockney, Sir David Attenborough, Betty Boothroyd, the former Commons Speaker, and Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the pioneering computer scientist.

The new appointments, the first since 2015, were awarded by the King during a service at the Chapel Royal.

The monarch then hosted a pre-lunch drinks reception in the Picture Gallery, where he complimented Hockney on his yellow footwear, worn with matching glasses and a flamboyant suit.

The artist, who used a wheelchair, insisted on standing when he met the King.

Hockney, 85, is preparing to launch an immersive experience which will give visitors the opportunity to engage with audio and visual elements to follow a journey through his art.

The show will launch early next year at Lightroom, a new four-storey venue in King’s Cross, London.

The King turned to renowned architect Lord Foster and said: “I can’t wait to see what he does next.”

Members of the Order pose for a group portrait - Aaron Chown/PA
Members of the Order pose for a group portrait - Aaron Chown/PA

Dame Elizabeth, who was honoured in the late Queen’s New Year’s Honours list in 2017 for services to nursing, said: “I’m so honoured. I’m just stargazing. It is history.”

Baroness Benjamin said she was delighted to be “the first black woman from the Caribbean” to be included in the historic order.

She added: “I just feel absolutely thrilled to know that one of Her late Majesty’s final wishes was to have such a diverse list.”

Sir David Attenborough said of the Order of Merit: “It is a mysterious thing, but it works. It is a great honour because it is such a variety of people from such a cross section of society.

“Membership of this group isn’t selected by wealth, nor is it selected by aristocracy.”

A group picture was taken in the Music Room before lunch was served in the state dining room.

Guests were served a croustade of poached egg Alexandra, pithivier of partridge and celeriac, and lemon and mint tart.

Simon Rattle, James Dyson and Baroness Boothroyd were unable to attend.