A Unique Perspective on Royal Photography
Chris Jackson has captured some of the most iconic images of the British royal family over the years. While his name may not be immediately familiar to everyone, his work is undoubtedly recognizable. From the momentous wedding day of Prince William and Princess Catherine in 2011 to the elegant 70th birthday portrait of King Charles III, Chris has been at the heart of many historic moments.
In a recent interview, Chris shared insights into what it’s like to be a royal photographer. He described the experience as one that offers a unique front-row seat to history. “Things don’t always go to plan, which is quite fun,” he said. He recalled how Queen Elizabeth II once mentioned that she enjoyed moments when things didn’t go as expected.
Chris shared several examples from his career, including small mishaps like an umbrella turning inside out or larger issues such as communication misunderstandings between the monarch and world leaders. “It’s all part of it,” he explained. “And I think people like the Queen and now the King are very adept at handling these moments and making sure things never feel awkward for their hosts or the people they’re meeting.”
One of the aspects Chris enjoys most about royal photography is the unpredictability of the moment. “It really is about what’s happening right in front of you – and some of it is out of your control. Not being able to control what you’re capturing heightens the sense of anticipation and excitement. There’s this feeling of not knowing what could happen next.”
A New Book and Memorable Moments
Chris recently launched his book, Modern Majesty, which will be available online from April 16 and in stores from June 16. The book includes his most memorable royal photos along with never-before-seen pictures. Putting it together gave him a chance to reflect on some of his most significant images over the years.
Among them is a powerful image of Princess Catherine sitting alone in a car wearing a mask at the funeral of Prince Philip in 2021. Taken outside Windsor Castle during the height of the COVID-19 restrictions, the striking, almost haunting image of the future queen captures a unique moment in world history and a period of change for the royal family.
“The picture of Catherine with the mask at the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral seems to resonate with people. I’ve had a lot of comments on it,” Chris said. “I’m not a big fan of photographing people in masks because often it hides emotion. But for this particular photo, it was unique because you felt like there was something being said through her eyes, and the fact she had a mask on kind of isolated her eyes in that moment.”
Chris added that he was especially pleased with the editing decision to transform the image into black and white. “I think it’s very stark. It’s very emotional,” he reflected. “It’s something that resonates with people, and I think perhaps they see it as symbolic of the future.”
Capturing Historic Moments
At the other end of the spectrum, Chris smiles as he remembers another of his instantly recognizable images: the joyous faces of newlyweds William and Catherine, just moments after they tied the knot. “Again, it’s capturing a moment in history. That’s what makes this job so unique,” he said. “It’s not about it being a ‘great’ photo, it’s about catching a moment. A good royal photo is that moment in history, and it will become part of the archive, to be examined and referred to for decades to come.”
Years of working as a trusted photographer have afforded Chris the rare chance to get to know the different personalities of the senior royal family members. “I have such great memories of photographing Queen Elizabeth, and I was lucky enough to do some official portraits of her. She was incredible and iconic, with an amazing presence.”
“Time moves on and now we’ve got King Charles and Queen Camilla – and I do a lot of work with them. I love working with the current queen – she’s got a wonderful sense of humour, is fantastic to photograph and always positive. The king is great at meeting people – he forms an immediate connection and has obviously got very good at it over the years. He’s very warm and always has a great sense of humour.”
Chris also had nothing but positive things to say about his experiences of working with the next generation leaders of the royal family in Prince William and Princess Catherine. “William – I’ve really enjoyed working with him on Earthshot events particularly because he’s super passionate about that. It’s really grown into something incredible. I’ve watched him grow into a global statesman and grow within his role, which has been great to see.”
“And with Catherine, people always talk a lot about her style, but she’s also deeply passionate about the advocacy she does on the early years of childhood.”
