The Royal Lancers — Portrait Sittings

Captain Anani-Isaac The Royal Lancers (Rory Lewis Portrait Photographer) Rory Lewis Non Profit Portrait Photographer.

For nearly a year I’ve been traveling across the United Kingdom and Europe as part of Soldiery — British Army Projects, an ongoing initiative through Rory Lewis Non-Profit to create a contemporary visual archive of the British Army. The aim is simple but vital: to preserve a truthful, dignified record of the men and women who serve today, before uniforms, traditions, and identities inevitably change.

My recent portrait sittings with The Royal Lancers in Catterick, Yorkshire, were a standout moment in this journey. Formed through the 2015 amalgamation of the 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales’s) and The Queen’s Royal Lancers, the regiment carries forward a renowned cavalry heritage. Known as “The Queen’s Own,” they continue to represent the discipline, pride, and long-standing traditions of armoured soldiering in the 21st century.

Captain Anani-Isaac The Royal Lancers (Rory Lewis Portrait Photographer) Rory Lewis Non Profit Portrait Photographer.

Captains, Humphreys, Prichard, White & Issac The Royal Lancers (Rory Lewis Portrait Photographer) Rory Lewis Non Profit Portrait Photographer.

Throughout the day, I had the privilege of photographing a wide range of personnel — from the Colonel of the Regiment and the Regimental Sergeant Major to troop leaders, NCOs and enlisted troopers. Each sitter brought their own character, their own story, and their own sense of identity rooted in the regiment’s history. Whether dressed in full ceremonial kit with the iconic skull-and-crossbones cap badge or in barracks uniform, the Lancers project a presence shaped by lineage, service and commitment. My task was to translate that presence into stillness, capturing a moment that will resonate long after the day has passed.

Lance Corporal Perkins The Royal Lancers (Rory Lewis Portrait Photographer) Rory Lewis Non Profit Portrait Photographer.

Captain Humphreys The Royal Lancers (Rory Lewis Portrait Photographer) Rory Lewis Non Profit Portrait Photographer.

Colonel Marcus Mudd The Royal Lancers (Rory Lewis Portrait Photographer) Rory Lewis Non Profit Portrait Photographer.

One of the unique aspects of working with soldiers is the clarity with which they respond to direction. Their focus and discipline make them exceptional portrait subjects. Graham Sutherland once said, “Accuracy is truth,” and that belief has guided every stage of Soldiery. With a degree in history, detail matters deeply to me — every scar, every line, every badge of rank carries meaning and deserves to be documented faithfully.

These portraits of The Royal Lancers form just one chapter in a much larger archive, but they embody the essence of what this project stands for: honouring service, preserving heritage, and creating a record of the British Army as it exists today. Through the work of Rory Lewis Non-Profit, Soldiery will continue to expand, ensuring that the soldiers of the 21st century are remembered with accuracy, dignity and respect — making history, one portrait at a time.