1st Battalion Coldstream Guards Portrait Sittings

1st Battalion Coldstream Guards Portrait Sittings (Rory Lewis Photographer) London Portrait Photographer

The final Infantry regimental sittings of the Soldiery portrait project were conducted with the Coldstream Guards, marking an important milestone in this ongoing non-profit archive of British military service.

Formed in 1650 as part of the New Model Army during the English Civil War, the regiment pledged its allegiance to King Charles II in 1660 and has since served continuously in the protection of the nation’s monarchs. Today, the Coldstream Guards fulfil a dual role within the British Army: as a front-line Infantry unit—the oldest regiment in continuous service—and as a ceremonial battalion entrusted with state and royal duties.

1st Battalion Coldstream Guards Portrait Sittings (Rory Lewis Photographer) London Portrait Photographer

1st Battalion Coldstream Guards Portrait Sittings (Rory Lewis Photographer) London Portrait Photographer

The regiment embodies the core values of the British Army: selfless commitment, respect for others, loyalty, integrity, discipline, and courage. Guided by its motto Nulli Secundus—“Second to None”—the Coldstream Guards draw strength from their history while remaining firmly focused on the demands of modern service.

1st Battalion Coldstream Guards Portrait Sittings (Rory Lewis Photographer) London Portrait Photographer

1st Battalion Coldstream Guards Portrait Sittings (Rory Lewis Photographer) London Portrait Photographer

1st Battalion Coldstream Guards Portrait Sittings (Rory Lewis Photographer) London Portrait Photographer

These portrait sittings took place at the historic Wellington Barracks in London, immediately prior to the Changing of the Guard. Capturing the Guardsmen in this setting allowed the project to document not only individual service and identity, but also the continuity of tradition, duty, and national responsibility that the regiment represents.

As with all Soldiery sittings, this work forms part of a long-term, non-profit visual record intended for public engagement, education, and future museum exhibition—preserving the lived history of those who serve.