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Veteran photographer shares favourite royal moments

 

@News Reporting on the Royals, Arthur Edwards_140415_3824_amritpal virdi


The Sun’s veteran Royal Photographer Arthur Edwards told a captivated crowd about his favourite moments from four decades spent photographing the monarchy, during an internal staff event held at The News Building.

Edwards - who has been credited for taking the greatest royal pictures of all time - was interviewed on stage by The Times' Columnist Alice Thomson - revealing the stories behind some of the most iconic images of all time.

He heaped praise on the Queen as “a formidable woman with an amazing sense of humour” and spoke of the great sadness he felt at Diana’s death, although stating he felt no responsibility: “She was someone who loved being photographed, and changed the whole way the royal’s worked."

On the subject of Diana, he admitted that he had only felt guilty about one story, the famous 'Bahama Mama' shot of Diana in a red bikini, bringing outrage from newspaper editors and MPs alike.

Another shot of the Queen shortly after Diana’s death, showed her in black socks, which the royal pap explained had been given to her by British Airways, to the amusement of the crowd.

As Edwards moved on to photography in the modern digital age, it was revealed that the Queen hates selfies, and William and Harry have stopped taking them, very much in contradiction to the growing popularity of them among politicians.

A more human side of the royals was also revealed, as Edwards explained that the Queen and Prince Philip argue like everyone else. “On one occasion they had a row in the car to the way to the event after Philip asked the Queen what the date was. The Queen replied it’s the 14th of November, Charles’ birthday! Yet they carried on as the true professionals that they are."

He rounded off by saying, “you can never say never” about the country becoming a republic, but “with the popularity the monarchy has been enjoying it is not something that I foresee in the near future."

 

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