Two recent recipients of the King’s Gold Medal for Poetry – Selima Hill (2022), and George Szirtes (2024), pictured – have finally been presented with their medals by King Charles at Buckingham Palace. The delay was a result of the medal being redesigned on the accession of the King. 2023’s King’s Gold Medal recipient, Mimi Khalvati, was unable to attend as she was unwell. Also at the Palace was the poet laureate Simon Armitage, who oversees the medal’s award each year. 

The new medal has images of the poets Sappho and Homer on the reverse side. It is understood that following the accession of the King a number of artists with links to His Majesty’s Patronages were asked to consider submitting a new design for the Gold Medal for Poetry.  Multiple designs were submitted by several participants, before an approved final version was chosen and refined. 

2025’s recipient of the King’s Gold Medal for Poetry will be announced in the next few weeks.