Beefeaters. Pearly kings. Bobbies on the beat. London has many ‘living landmarks’, as delightful to catch a glimpse of as Buckingham Palace, St Paul’s Cathedral or Nelson’s Column. Few, however, come with as much pride as the Chelsea Pensioner. Usually spotted around their home, the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the scarlet coats and black peaked caps of these revered Army veterans are symbols of a lifetime of duty.
The story of the Chelsea Pensioners begins over three centuries ago. In 1681, King Charles II was distressed at the increasing casualties of war and recognised that the country owed them a debt of gratitude. Many had lost limbs, some were just broken by old age and infirmity. Charles invited architect Sir Christopher Wren to design a gigantic almshouse for these veteran soldiers. The resulting plans comprised two wings, connected by a colonnade, a great hall and a chapel in what
