Bal Samand Lake Palace to Feature in Buckingham Palace Exhibit Honouring King Charles III’s Travels

• Apr 23, 2025

Jodhpur’s iconic Bal Samand Lake Palace will be showcased in a special exhibition this summer at Buckingham Palace, celebrating King Charles III’s travels around the world.

Titled The King's Tour Artists, the exhibition will be part of the annual Summer Opening of the palace’s State Rooms in early July. It will include over 70 artworks from the King’s personal collection, many of which will be displayed publicly for the first time.

One of the highlights is Balsamand Palace by London-based artist Luke Martineau, painted during a royal tour of India in 2010. Martineau accompanied Charles—then Prince of Wales—on a four-day visit to India for the opening of the XIX Commonwealth Games.

“Luke Martineau was invited to join a four-day royal tour to India in 2010, for the opening of the Commonwealth Games,” said the Royal Collection Trust, the organization responsible for curating the royal family’s art collection.

“Determined to capture meaningful moments, he meticulously reviewed the itinerary to carve out time for sketching scenes as they unfolded—such as the golden sunset casting its glow over the lake beside Balsamand Palace,” the Trust noted. Martineau later described the experience as a major influence on his artistic direction.

This unique tradition of including artists in royal tours began in 1985, when Charles invited artist John Ward to accompany him to Italy, encouraging him to freely create works based on whatever inspired him throughout the journey. The upcoming exhibit continues this legacy, offering the public a rare glimpse into the royal journeys through the eyes of celebrated artists.