IT is 40 years since King Charles, then Prince of Wales, first took an artist with him on a royal tour.
The Sun’s celebrated royal photographer Arthur Edwards was on that first trip, when society portrait painter John Ward joined Charles and Diana on their 17-day tour to Italy in 1985.
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King Charles has been taking photographers and artists with him on royal tours for 40 years – he is painted here in the Galapagos IslesCredit: © the artist. Photograph: Royal Collection Trust
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Charles’ visit to the islands in 2009 is one of the royal’s most memorable tripsCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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Sun photographer Arthur Edwards picked out his favourite paintings and photos from royal toursCredit: Lorna Roach
William and Harry were only tots and travelled with their parents on the Royal Yacht Britannia.
After each foreign tour, Charles chooses his favourite paintings and displays them in private at his homes, Clarence House, Highgrove, Birkhall and Sandringham.
But from next Thursday, the public can see them for the first time when summer visitors to Buckingham Palace will be able to view paintings by 43 royal artists from 70 incredible tours in 90 countries around the world.
Arthur has been given an exclusive preview of the paintings – and here he shares his memories and favourite photos from royal journeys with the King and his artists.
READ MORE ON KING CHARLESGalapagos Isles, 2009
THE highlight of Charles and Camilla’s tour to Chile, Brazil and Ecuador was a visit to the Galapagos Islands, home to the most incredible wildlife.
A mix-up over boat times meant artist Richard Foster nearly missed the trip to uninhabited North Seymour Island, but thankfully the coastguard came to his aid.
And he managed to paint the Prince and Duchess on this lump of Pacific lava rock home to the rare blue-footed booby bird and iguanas so tame they don’t see humans as a threat.
My favourite photograph on this tour is of the couple getting up close with the famous giant tortoises.
One of the great joys of my life is seeing amazing places. Sadly, this visit was limited to three days in paradise.
King Charles waves to royal fans as he leaves Buckingham Palace with Queen Camilla for Trooping the Colour
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Martin Yeoman painted this picture of an arched entrance to the Red Fort at AgraCredit: © the artist. Photograph: Royal Collection Trust
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Princess Diana posed for a famous picture in front of the Taj Mahal on the royal tour of IndiaCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdIndia and Nepal, 1993
THIS was the royal tour that Princess Diana hijacked with her historic solo photo at the Taj Mahal.
Artist Martin Yeoman, who painted this picture of an arched entrance to the Red Fort at Agra, accidentally strayed outside the official tour.
When he tried to rejoin the others, local security did not believe him until eventually a junior official vouched for him.
Just before Diana posed for that picture at the Taj Mahal, I was the only photographer to go with her to the fort.
She posed up, arms folded, looking absolutely stunning with the most beautiful smile.
With a long lens, I was able to get the Taj Mahal in the background.
I rate it in the top five best pictures I ever took of Diana.
Uganda and Turkey, 2007
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Mungo McCosh painted this picture of Charles and Camilla crossing the Golden Horn in IstanbulCredit: © the artist. Photograph: Royal Collection Trust
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The royal couple took a trip to Uganda’s capital city Kampala in 2007Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
AFTER a couple of days in Uganda’s capital Kampala for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, the royals travelled to the city of Jinja, on the banks of Lake Victoria, the source of the River Nile.
While I was photographing the royal couple on a boat, Camilla took out her camera and snapped a picture of me.
Later on the tour, I admired the work of artist Mungo McCosh, who painted this picture of Charles and Camilla crossing the Golden Horn in Istanbul.
I had been trying to photograph the scene for half an hour without much success and I told Mungo: “The pencil can do something the camera can’t.”
Today, nearly 20 years later, I still remember being entranced while photographing the mind-blowing whirling dervishes.
Egypt, 2006
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Prince Charles and Camilla were recently married in 2006 when they visited EgyptCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
I HAD been to Egypt five times and was ill on each occasion. At one point, Diana’s doctor had to treat me.
So the last time, in 2022, I took no chances by carrying my own food and water.
Back in 2006, we travelled to a desert oasis at Siwa, where artist Sarah Butterfield captured this scene of a local by the water.
I got a wonderful photograph of the recently married couple.
Walking uphill, Camilla linked arms with Charles and they were both wearing white hats.
One newspaper called them Fred & Gladys – the nicknames they gave each other early in their relationship.
Sri Lanka and India, 2013
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Catherine Goodman captured Mumbai’s Gateway Of India in charcoal and gouacheCredit: © [artist’s name]. Photograph: Royal Collection Trust
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During a flight to Sri Lanka in 2013 Arthur Edwards presented King Charles with a front page celebrating his 65th birthdayCredit: The Sun
CHARLES was going to be 65 on the day we flew to Sri Lanka from India.
The Sun had created a special front page with the headline OAP – Old Aged Prince – complete with ads for free eye tests and discounts at Specsavers.
I wanted to present it to him on the plane and, despite a lot of haggling, his press secretary was reluctant to allow it.
Suddenly, lovely Camilla appeared, took me to the front of the flight and said: “Darling, Arthur’s got a present for you.”
Charles laughed because his Sun front page was very funny.
Then I asked if I could have a picture taken of me giving the Prince the present.
He asked, “What’s it for?” and when I told him, “Tomorrow’s paper”, he replied, ‘OK, but against my better judgment”.
I will never forget the relief when I got that photo back to London.
It was on this trip that artist Catherine Goodman, who captured Mumbai’s Gateway Of India in charcoal and gouache, said to me: “I’d like to paint your portrait”.
I thought she was joking, but after 12 hours of sittings, my picture hung in the National Portrait Gallery.
I never found out who suggested it – but I suspect the idea came from the VIP at the front of the plane!
New Zealand, 2012
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Artist Sue Wild painted the late Queen’s Diamond Jubilee being marked with an Armistice Day service in AucklandCredit: © the artist. Photograph: Royal Collection Trust
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Arthur took his favourite picture of King Charles in New Zealand – alongside an albatrossCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
PRINCE Charles’s tour to New Zealand to mark the late Queen’s Diamond Jubilee began with an Armistice Day service in Auckland.
Local artist Sue Wild, wearing a home-made pinny to carry her watercolours, brushes and pencils, painted this wonderful picture.
Three days later, on the future King’s birthday, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key led a rendition of the Beatles song When I’m Sixty-Four at a government reception.
Being 64 didn’t stop Charles dancing with well-wishers in the streets of Christchurch.
I have been to New Zealand half a dozen times with the Prince and in 2005 took my favourite photo of him – with an albatross in Dunedin.
The giant bird and its chick were just three feet from Charles, who was there to warn about the slaughter of these majestic creatures in discarded fishing nets.
He is so passionate that even as King, he will go to any lengths to highlight the damage being done to the environment.
Ireland, 1995
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King Charles was snapped walking with Irish president Mary Robinson during his 1995 visitCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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Artist Derek Hill painted this beautiful landscape on the border between Counties Galway and MayoCredit: © the artist. Photograph: Royal Collection Trust
IT wasn’t until the mid-Nineties that Prince Charles went on an official visit to the Republic of Ireland for the first time – though that’s understandable given the long years of conflict there.
Huge crowds lined O’Connell Street in Dublin, where a couple of IRA demonstrators kicked off, then suddenly they disappeared.
Nothing was going to interrupt this tour.
Later, Charles walked in the garden of the President’s house with Mary Robinson.
I photographed her pointing out the light that is never extinguished so that Irish people who emigrate know they will always be welcomed back.
Later, the Prince went across to Delphi Lodge on the border between Counties Galway and Mayo, where artist Derek Hill painted this beautiful landscape.
It was not until 2011 that Queen Elizabeth made her first visit to Dublin.
Since 2015, Charles has gone almost every year to a different part of Ireland to celebrate the goodwill between our two countries.
- The King’s Tour Artists forms part of the public visitor route at Buckingham Palace from July 10.
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During a flight to Sri Lanka Sun royal photographer Arthur Edwards presents The Prince of Wales with a front page celebrating his 65th birthday in November 2013Credit: The Sun