This summer, visitors to the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace will see a special exhibition, The King’s Tour Artists, featuring over 70 works of art from His Majesty’s own collection, many on public display for the first time.
Luke Martineau, Balsamand Palace, 2010
An accompanying publication, The Art of Royal Travel: Journeys with The King, will further explore and celebrate this special royal tradition. Featuring recollections from the artists and over 100 illustrations, it tells the behind-the-scenes stories of the tours from an unrivalled perspective.
Kate Heard, curator of The King’s Tour Artists said: ‘This fascinating group of works tells the story of forty years of official travel and artistic patronage. The freedom given to each artist to capture a personal impression of the countries visited has led to the formation of a rich and varied collection. Encompassing landscapes, figure studies and still life subjects, these works are testament to His Majesty’s deep engagement with and encouragement of artists over the past four decades.’
The Earl of Rosslyn (Lord Steward and Personal Secretary to The King and Queen), who conceived and edited The Art of Royal Travel: Journeys with The King, said: ‘By inviting an artist to join a royal tour in 1985, The King started a tradition that has continued unbroken to the current day. Some were at the start of their careers, others more established, but when interviewed for this book all were united in gratitude for the memorable artistic adventure it represented, knowing also that they were working for someone in sympathy with the artistic craft, a patron of the arts and a passionate advocate for cultural life.’
The King’s Tour Artists exhibition will be included as part of a visit to the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace, 10 July – 28 September 2025.
