The Last of the Tide, The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London SW1, 6^th – 17^th June 2015

Laurence ‘Laurie’ Weeden, Pilot with the Glider Pilot Regiment

Martin Yeoman,
Laurence ‘Laurie’ Weeden,
Pilot with the Glider Pilot Regiment
© Martin Yeoman
Photograph: © Royal Collection Trust

This very special exhibition was commissioned by HRH The Prince of Wales after attending last year’s events marking the 70th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy. It comprises twelve portraits of D-Day veterans who are depicted wearing their medals and in some cases their regimental berets. The sitters all served in regiments with which The Prince and the Duchess of Cornwall have a formal association. Each of the twelve portraits was painted by a different artist among whom were Jonathan Yeo, James Lloyd, Ishbel Myerscough and Stuart Pearson Wright.

Eileen Hogan,
Robert Antony ‘Tony’ Leake,
Corporal with the 8th Battalion The Parachute
Regiment
© Eileen Hogan
Photograph: © Royal Collection Trust

Robert Antony ‘Tony’ Leake, Corporal with the 8th Battalion The Parachute Regiment

It is right and fitting that this exhibition should open on this anniversary of D-Day. The extraordinary men – and they truly are, as I know personally through my partner’s father who served on one of the landing craft bringing the Canadian troops to Juno Nan Beach – were part of the Allied invasion on 6^th June 1944 which was the largest amphibious invasion in history and resulted in the liberation of France from the Nazi occupation.

Brian Stewart, Captain with the 1st Battalion, Tyneside Scottish

Paul Benney,
Brian Stewart,
Captain with the 1st Battalion, Tyneside Scottish
© Paul Benney
Photograph: © Royal Collection Trust

Admission is free. Tickets are available from the Gallery, on the day only.

http://www.royalcollection.org.uk