Royal Armouries Statement: Tower of London and Leeds Museum Gallery Displays

The origins of the Royal Armouries collection date all the way back to the medieval period at the Tower of London -the collection was owned, used, and worn by Heads of States and soldiers over many centuries.   

We also have many international objects, often given as gifts or exchanged between nations, including some with important links to colonial history.  

The Royal Armouries has a duty to preserve and present the material culture of the past -the objects that illustrate what actually happened, in our histories. 

In doing so, we aim to increase understanding about history -and especially about human conflict, to imagine and forge – a better, shared future.  

Our displays are increasingly important reflections on an exciting but at times, troubled past. They provide opportunities to open discussions and work with lots of communities and to help us all to reflect on and review our shared histories, from modern and previous standpoints. 

We aim to ensure that our displays are accompanied by appropriate and sensitive information, aligned with multiple, relevant viewpoints. We are currently investing in new research to help generate even more inclusive narratives about our collection. 

We firmly believe that our gallery displays are sensitive to and increasingly reflective of modern, diverse values and attitudes to the past and offer a fair, honest -and fascinating appraisal of wonderful and, often complex areas of human history. 

We hope you’ll visit us and will join those hundreds of thousands of others that do so annually, who feedback that they have greatly enjoyed the experiences and revelations that The Royal Armouries offers for all our visitors.