Major General James Bowder OBE – Portrait Sitting

Captured for the Rory Lewis Non-Profit – Honoring the Commanders of the Household Division

The role of the Major-General commanding the Household Division is one of immense historical weight and ceremonial significance. As General Officer Commanding London District, the Major-General holds responsibility for the service aspect of all State and ceremonial occasions within London, leading the elite regiments of the Household Division and acting as the principal conduit between these regiments and the Monarch.

Major General James Bowder OBE Major-General commanding the Household Division (Rory Lewis Non Profit 2021)

In October 2025, I had the honor of photographing Major General James Bowder OBE, the third consecutive Major-General of the Household Division I have captured for the Rory Lewis Non-Profit. Following my portraits of Major General Benjamin Bathurst CBE and Major General Chris Ghika CBE, this latest sitting continues an evolving visual record of those entrusted with upholding the highest traditions of the British Army and the Crown.

A distinguished officer of the Grenadier Guards, Major General Bowder’s military career spans nearly three decades of leadership and service. Commissioned from Sandhurst in 1996, he went on to command the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, serving in Afghanistan, before leading the 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade and later the 6th (United Kingdom) Division. His tenure as Director of Army Futures and Head of Strategy for the Army reflected his forward-thinking approach to modernization and military innovation, while his ceremonial role as Regimental Lieutenant Colonel of the Grenadier Guards underscores his deep connection to tradition.

The sitting took place in London, where I sought to balance formality and humanity — portraying not merely the uniform, but the man within it. The resulting portrait captures a modern leader shaped by both operational command and intellectual foresight, standing within the lineage of history yet firmly oriented toward the Army’s future.

Through the work of the Rory Lewis Non-Profit, this portrait joins a growing archive dedicated to preserving the visages and legacies of those who serve. Each commander of the Household Division stands as both custodian and symbol — their likenesses, now collectively captured, reflect the living continuum of British military heritage.