1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards — Recruitment Campaign Photography

1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards — Recruitment Campaign Photography (Rory Lewis Photographer 2020)

In late 2020, 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards commissioned Rory Lewis to create the visual campaign for their 2021 recruitment drive. The shoot took place at Victoria Barracks, Windsor, captured in the final weeks before national lockdown—an atmosphere that lent urgency and focus to the work.

Founded in 1650 during the English Civil War, the Coldstream Guards are the oldest regiment in the British Army in continuous service. Since swearing allegiance to King Charles II in 1660, the regiment has stood at the heart of Britain’s military and ceremonial life, guarding the Sovereign and serving on operations worldwide.

The Coldstream Guards fulfil a dual role:

• Frontline infantry, deployed on operations at home and abroad

• Ceremonial battalion, entrusted with state and royal duties of the highest order

This commission sought to reflect both identities—discipline and dignity, modern soldiering and historic continuity. Drawing on the regiment’s enduring ethos and motto, Nulli Secundus (Second to None), the imagery balances strength, restraint, and quiet confidence, presenting a contemporary force grounded in centuries of service.

Rory Lewis provides a comprehensive portrait and commissioning service for members of the British Army, Royal Navy, and RAF, delivering work that honours tradition while communicating relevance to new generations.