Arthur Edwards MBE is now 82 years of age. He has been a photographer of the royal family for longer than anyone else, certainly in a mainstream media capacity and has worked all that time for the Sun newspaper.
Arthur’s was behind the lens for many of the photos that come to our minds when summoning up the big images – the formal poses of the Queen and the Duke, Prince Charles through the years, and Diana, that photo of her holding kindergarten children, the first ever taken of her before she was thrust into the limelight. And of course, Diana with her own children, and many in her unguarded moments of fun; latterly William and Kate of course, Harry & Meghan... thousands and thousands of photographs: at Sandringham, Buckingham Palace, Ascot, the ski slopes, the polo fields and wherever he could find a royal personage doing something that looked a bit interesting.
Over 45 years he’s become part of the royal furniture, although his non-threatening relationship with them all didn’t begin amiably. His close relationship with the king was for a long time fraught.
Arthur Edwards has published a book that’s full of photos, as you’d expect. It’s called BEHIND THE CROWN – MY LIFE PHOTOGRAPHING THE ROYAL FAMILY.
Photo: HarperCollins
