David Hockney was a man of "irrepressible charm, talent and constant innovation", King Charles has said as he paid tribute to "one of life's true originals" in a post on social media following the artist's death at the age of 88. The King said he and Camilla were "greatly saddened" to hear that the celebrated British artist had passed, adding that he will be "sorely missed".

Mr Hockney died peacefully at home on June 11, his publicist said earlier today. Charles had hosted the influential painter on multiple occasions, including in November 2022 for his first Order of Merit luncheon, where Mr Hockney famously wore a suit paired with bright yellow rubber shoes.

The King said in a message issued by Buckingham Palace: "My wife and I were greatly saddened to learn of the death of David Hockney, a giant of the world of art and painting, a Yorkshireman through and through, and a dear friend and inspiration to so many."

He continued: "David was one of life’s true originals; one who wore his genius as lightly as those beloved yellow Crocs of his that helped brighten Palace occasions.

"I trust they will see him tread safely into the hereafter as we mourn a man whose irrepressible charm, talent and constant innovation will be most sorely missed, but whose dazzling creativity lives on in galleries and museums around the world.”

The King was understood to have shared a warm relationship with Mr Hockney, based on their mutual appreciation of art and the traditional craft of drawing.

The artist's career spanned seven decades, with his most famous paintings including The Splash, A Bigger Splash, Portrait Of An Artist (Pool With Two Figures), My Parents and Mr And Mrs Clark And Percy.

Mr Hockney was also lauded for his use of different formats, and embraced printmaking, set design, and photography to evolving media including photocopier and fax machines, computer, iPhone and iPad drawing, and stained glass.

Public tributes have poured in following his death, with the mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, describing him as “quite simply one of Yorkshire’s finest”.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy also called Hockney “a true titan of British art”.

And Sir Nicholas Serota, chairman of Arts Council England, praised him as an “artist of constant invention” who was “full of humility about his achievements, but his work was admired across the world”.