Black Butterfly

Looks great, We should ask Diohio what it is , she will know!

What a beauty!

What a great picture of a beautiful butterfly. I'm glad you had your camera ready!

Sorry, I don't know UK butterflies but I did a search on them and this guy wasn't one of them. I'm thinking that this is as Robert suggested........an escapee from a butterfly exhibit. I'd say it's a Swallowtail at any rate. Very beautiful ! It does seem that it really is a very deep royal blue though, rather than black. The red on the abdomen is very distinct too.

One more suggestion.....Robert, you should visit that butterfly garden near you and ask for a list of the species that they keep there. Or else describe your butterfly to them and they may be able to tell you.

Google is a wonderful thing!
This is a Pink Rose Swallowtail butterfly, Pachliopta Kotzebuea.
It is native to the Phillipines, The Pachlioptas from southeast Asia have a varied amount of red on the abdomen and lower wings, this subspecies has the least amount of red. They are generally called Black Swallowtails by the people of the Phillipines.