From 10 July to 28 September 2025, Buckingham Palace’s State Rooms host The King’s Tour Artists, an exhibition organized by the Royal Collection Trust showcasing more than 70 artworks personally chosen by His Majesty King Charles III. The exhibition commemorates a tradition begun in spring 1985, when then-Prince of Wales invited artist John Ward - at his own expense - to join an official tour in Italy, with the freedom to paint whatever inspired him. Since then, 42 artists have participated in 69 tours across 95 countries, creating a unique collection of landscapes, figure studies, and still lifes. These personal interpretations offer a richer and more intimate record than typical photography. Key works include Ward’s From the Afterdeck of HMY Britannia (1985), Paul Reid’s Views of Petra (2004), Mary Anne Aytoun Ellis’s paintings of Kaieteur Falls (2000), Susannah Fiennes’s Hong Kong depictions during the 1997 handover, and Richard Foster’s Galápagos Islands sketches (2009). Displayed in the Ballroom, many pieces are being exhibited publicly for the first time, giving audiences a unique window into royal travel as experienced by artists. Curated by Kate Heard and conceived by The Earl of Rosslyn, the exhibition is accompanied by the book The Art of Royal Travel: Journeys with The King, released 19 June 2025 by Modern Art Press. It includes recollections from the artists and over 100 illustrations, offering behind-the-scenes insights into life on royal tours. This presentation not only reflects Charles III’s deep engagement with the arts but also highlights his ongoing patronage and cultural diplomacy. The exhibition invites visitors to traverse decades of global history through intimate, artist-driven visual narratives.
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