Visitors to the Buckingham Palace’s State Rooms can see special exhibition this summer, 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.

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.

In the spring of 1985, the then Prince of Wales invited, at his own expense, John Ward to join a royal visit to Italy as the official tour artist, with the brief to draw or paint whatever inspired him.

For the subsequent 40 years, an artist has been personally selected and paid for by The King to accompany the travelling party on a royal overseas tour with the brief remaining largely unchanged throughout.

Forty-two artists to have undertaken this role, who collectively have visited 95 countries during 69 tours, will be represented in the exhibition and publication.

Reflecting His Majesty’s longstanding patronage of the arts, the initiative has provided an opportunity for both experienced and emerging artists to undertake a unique commission and a concentrated period of work in the country or countries visited.

The works on display in the Palace’s Ballroom, chosen from a selection made by The King from his personal collection, will provide glimpses of life on a royal tour, capturing the tone, colours and atmosphere in ways that differ from a photographic record.

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.

Tickets are available now: www.rct.uk, +44 (0)303 123 7300. The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace are open to visitors for seven days a week in July and August, and five days a week in September (Thursday to Monday, remaining closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays).