Waterloo Bicentenary Commemorations
The Bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo on 18th June 2015 was marked by major commemorations across Europe. See photographs from the events below.
Service of Commemoration at St. Paul’s Cathedral
The New Waterloo Dispatch (London)
The New Waterloo Dispatch (Belgium)
Hougoumont Reopens
Waterloo Ball
Monument Unveiled at Waterloo Station
St. Paul's Service of Commemoration
On 18th June 2015, a major commemorative service took place in St. Paul’s Cathedral, remembering all those who fought and died at the Battle of Waterloo, exactly 200 years before. Among over 2000 guests were their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, Prime Minister David Cameron, her Excellency the French Ambassador, his Grace the Duke of Wellington, and representatives of every British Army regiment that fought at the Battle of Waterloo. Also in attendance were over 200 schoolchildren, from around the country, who have been learning about the Battle as part of the 200 Schools Project. Click on any image for a larger version
Students from the 200 Schools project at St. Paul’s Cathedral, 18 June 2015.
After the service there was a reception for those attending the service at the Guildhall.
Photographer: Corporal Tom Evans RLC
Soldiers from across the Army, including many from the Household Division. Lining the steps to the Great West Door were soldiers from those regiments who were present at Waterloo but do not, for various historic reasons, have their own Colours. At the bottom of the steps were placed two guns from the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, which take the place of Colours for artillery regiments.. Photographer: Corporal Tom Evans RLC
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall, leave St Paul’s. Photographer: Corporal Tom Evans RLC
Prime Minister David Cameron and the President of the European Parliament arrive at a service of commemoration at St Paul’s Cathedral. Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
Image of HRH the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Bowles.
The Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Nicholas Carter KCB CBE DSO ADC, was followed down the nave by Cpl Lee Oliver from the Yorkshire Regiment carrying the 1st Duke of Wellington’s Sword of Honour and Ranger Joseph Nixon from the Royal Irish carrying his Field MarshallÕs Baton. These were then handed to Field Marshall the Lord Guthrie GCB LVO OBE DL, who in turn passed them to the Dean to be placed on the altar.
Image of Lt Col Matthew Birch, Commanding Officer of 7th Parachute Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, reading a letter from Colonel Sir Augustus Frazer of the Royal Horse Artillery; after the battle of Waterloo was won.
Image of HRH Prince Edward.
Inside St. Paul’s Cathedral during the Service of Commemoration, 18 June. Copyright St. Paul’s Cathedral.
See more photographs from inside the service from St. Paul’s Cathedral.
See the order of service and the Bishop of London’s excellent address from the service.
The New Waterloo Dispatch (London)
From the 19th to the 21st June, a major commemorative procession travelled from the battlefield of Waterloo to the centre of London. The New Waterloo Dispatch, symbolising the shared European values that have emerged in the 200 years since Waterloo, retraced the route of the original Waterloo Dispatch. A post chaise, re-enactors, military bands, and charity cyclists made for a splendidly varied procession through Belgium, across the Channel and all the way to St. James’s Square, London. Here the Dispatch was delivered to Princess Anne and a re-enactor portraying the Prince Regent, in the very room that Major Henry Percy laid the original Dispatch at the feet of an incredulous Prince Regent 200 years ago.
See the New Waterloo Dispatch arrive in Kent.
Click on any image for a larger version.
Princess Anne with “the Prince Regent”, East India Club, 21 June 2015. Picture by Phil McCarthy.
Princess Anne with Peter Warwick and General Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter, organisers of the New Waterloo Dispatch, 21 June 2015. Picture by Phil McCarthy.
Horse-drawn Post Chaise carriage leads London re-enactment past the Shard, to commemorate the 200-year anniversary of the Waterloo Dispatch. Picture by Rex Features / Nils Jorgensen.
Re-enactors Julian Farrance (National Army Museum) and Michael Bradley depict Major Henry Percy and Captain James White carrying the New Waterloo Dispatch on June 21 2015. Picture by Rex Features / Nils Jorgensen.
Finnish military band marches up the Mall, as part of the New Waterloo Dispatch procession. Picture by Rex Features / Nils Jorgensen.
Military bands accompany the New Waterloo Dispatch past Tower Bridge on June 21 2015. Picture by Rex Features / Nils Jorgensen.
Children from local schools made giant historical puppets to accompany the New Waterloo Dispatch. Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
The Dutch Band march across the Horse Guards Parade. Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
The post-chaise carriage carrying the New Waterloo Dispatch. Corporal Andy Reddy RLC
After passing through Horse Guards, which was at the time of Waterloo the headquarters of the Army, the post chaise proceeded to Hyde Park corner where a presentation was made to Lady Jane Wellesley, a direct descendent of the 1st Duke of Wellington. Crown copyright.
Regimental bands accompany the New Waterloo Dispatch. Photo – Corporal Andy Reddy RLC
Schools accompany the New Waterloo Dispatch procession. Photo – Corporal Andy Reddy RLC
Schools accompany the New Waterloo Dispatch procession. Photo – Corporal Andy Reddy RLC
Representatives of Britain’s international allies at the time of the Battle of Waterloo accompany the New Waterloo Dispatch procession. Photo – Corporal Andy Reddy RLC
One of the reenactors carrying the New Waterloo Dispatch. Photo – Corporal Andy Reddy RLC
The Household Cavalry march in the procession of the New Waterloo Dispatch. Corporal Andy Reddy RLC
Re-enactors in St. James’s Square, near the East India Club where Princess Anne received the New Waterloo Dispatch. Photograph Phil McCarthy.
See over 600 more from photographer Phil McCarthy.
The New Waterloo Dispatch (Belgium)
On 19th June 2015, a ceremonial procession set off from the Wellington Museum, Waterloo, carrying the New Waterloo Dispatch. This document, symbolising the shared European values that have emerged in the last 200 years. Re-enactors carrying this document and models of the two Eagle standards captured at Waterloo retraced the historic route of the Waterloo Dispatch, via Brussels, then Ostend, to Broadstairs and London.
Click on any image for a larger version.
Re-enactors outside the Wellington Museum, Waterloo. This building was the Duke of Wellington’s command post for Waterloo, and it was here that the original Waterloo Dispatch was composed.
Re-enactors depicting Wellington’s redcoats.
Re-enactors outside the Wellington Museum, Waterloo. This building was the Duke of Wellington’s command post for Waterloo, and it was here that the original Waterloo Dispatch was composed.
Waterloo 200 members inside the Wellington Museum, Waterloo, watching the New Waterloo Dispatch leave.
Julian Farrance (National Army Museum), representing Major Henry Percy who carried the Waterloo Dispatch to London, in Brussels. Photography Philippe Cornez.
Julian Farrance (National Army Museum), representing Major Henry Percy who carried the Waterloo Dispatch to London, in Ostend. Photography Philippe Cornez.
The post-chaise carriage in Ostend. Photography Philippe Cornez.
Dignitaries from the New Waterloo Dispatch and the Belgian Tourist Board see off the New Waterloo Dispatch at Ostend. Photography Philippe Cornez.
The post-chaise carriage in Ostend. Photography Philippe Cornez.
A re-enactor carrying the New Waterloo Dispatch meets representatives of the Belgian government. Photography Philippe Cornez.
Two Belgian re-enactors in Brussels. Photography Philippe Cornez.
A committee of the New Waterloo Dispatch in Brussels. Photography Philippe Cornez.
A committee from the New Waterloo Dispatch at the Royal Museum of the Army and of Military History, Brussels. Photography Philippe Cornez.
Inside the Royal Museum of the Army and of Military History, Brussels. Photographer Philippe Cornez.
See more images from Belgium, by photographer Philippe Cornez.
Hougoumont Reopens
The chateau and farm of Hougoumont was one of the most important battlegrounds during the Battle of Waterloo. Unfortunately, over 200 years the buildings had fallen into disrepair. Project Hougoumont, assisted by funding from the British government amongst others, did sterling work in refurbishing the site in time for the 200th anniversary of Waterloo.
On 17th June 2015, 200 years since the eve of the Battle of Waterloo, Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall attended a special ceremony at the Belgian farm. Descendants of those who fought on both sides of the Battle of Waterloo: the present day Duke of Wellington, Prince Nikolaus von Blucher of Prussia and Prince Charles Bonaparte, came together for the opening ceremony. They were joined by Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium. The Prince of Wales and The Duke of Wellington also unveiled a new monument to commemorate all the British soldiers who fought at Waterloo.
His Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales thanks Lieutenant Colonel Simon Soskin for his part in organising the event.
Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
The magnificent new bronze sculpture featuring two British soldiers, by Vivienne Mallock, which was unveiled as a new memorial to all the British dead.
Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
Colour Sergeants march past the magnificent new bronze sculpture featuring two British soldiers, by Vivienne Mallock, which was unveiled as a new memorial to all the British dead.
Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
His Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales unveils the magnificent new bronze sculpture featuring two British soldiers, by Vivienne Mallock, which was unveiled as a new memorial to all the British dead. Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
In a powerful re-enactment which illustrated a deliberate reversal of the actions undertaken by their predecessaors 200 years ago, ten Guardsmen from No 7 Company Coldstream Guards, dressed for the occasion in 1815 period costume, carried out the official opening of the Gate.
Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
In a powerful re-enactment which illustrated a deliberate reversal of the actions undertaken by their predecessaors 200 years ago, ten Guardsmen from No 7 Company Coldstream Guards, dressed for the occasion in 1815 period costume, carried out the official opening of the Gate. Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
During the ceremony, the Band of the Coldstream Guards played a new piece of music composed for the occasion: “Hougoumont Farm”. Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
Re-enactors, posing as Coldstream Guards in the same uniforms as the soldiers would have been wearing 200 years ago. Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
The Duchess of Richmond's Ball
On 16th June 2015 more than 400 guests met in Brussels to attend a glittering recreation of “the most famous ball in history“. In Brussels on Thursday 15th June 1815, the Duchess of Richmond hosted a large party for the assembled high command of the Allied armies and their accompanying wives, family and other nobility.
In the Concert Noble, a building designed in the 19th century as a suite of ballrooms for the nobility, descendants and military representatives of those units who fought at Waterloo 200 years ago dined and danced as their forebears did on the eve of battle.
No detail was left untended. From the Georgian silver centre pieces shipped out from Regimental museums, to the gin and sparkling wine, floral displays and the choice of music provided by the Band of the Coldstream Guards and the Scots Guards Pipes and Drums, the sword dance and Scottish reels, all harked back to a fateful evening in mid June on the eve of Europe’s most decisive battle when Wellington rallied his commanders.
Guests dance to Scottish reels at the Waterloo Ball. Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
The Scots Guards Pipes and Drums perform while Scots Guards perform sword dance.
Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
The Scots Guards Pipes and Drums give an upstanding performance. Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
The Coldstream band perform. Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
The Coldstream band perform. Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
The banqueting hall.
Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
The Coldstream band perform. Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
The guests of honour were the Earl of Mornington, representing his father the 9th Duke of Wellington (left), the Comtesse du Wardin and Prince Nikolaus Blcher von Wahlstatt.
Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
More than 400 guests attended- nobility, descendants and military representatives of those units who fought at Waterloo 200 years ago. Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
Carl Helmuth von Blucher with his wife. Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
Lieutenant William de Grouchy, whose birthday coincidentally falls on 18th June, the anniversary of the battle, is a direct descendant of Napoleon’s senior General. Now an officer in the King’s Royal Hussars, Will is thrilled to be on the present day “winning side” though representing his defeated ancestor at the ball.
Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
The largest was the one metre-high mounted statue of the First Duke of Wellington. Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
The handles of the soup tureens are the handles of Napoleon’s coach that was captured by the 10th Light Dragoons at the Battle of Waterloo. Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
Waterloo Station Memorial
The first war memorial in the UK to commemorate Allied Soldiers who fell at the Battle of Waterloo – The Waterloo Memorial – was unveiled at a place that will forever be linked in people’s minds to the Battle, Waterloo Station. On 10 June 2015 a group of dignitaries including Peter Snow and the Duke of Wellington were present at the ceremony.
Peter Snow, Broadcaster and historian tells the heroic story of the Battle of Waterloo. Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
The present Duke of Wellington unveiled the memorial at a special service at the Mainline Station. Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
The memorial is a model of the iconic Waterloo medal, the first ever campaign medal, issued after the Battle.
Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
Two, 200 year old soldiers get to grips with using an escalator in Waterloo Station. Photographer: Sergeant Rupert Frere RLC
