Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
On the other hand, and what this documentary really drives home with actual footage of the Royal Family interacting with Edwards over four decades, is that the truth is much more complicated. Edwards himself explains it in a Zoom interview from London, where he is preparing to cover the coronation this weekend. For 45 years I've chronicled the Royal Family for the Sun newspaper with my camera. I've witnessed their triumphs and disasters, their laughter and tears, when they've found love and when their relationships splinter. I'm there when they emerge from the maternity wing as wailing newborns and I'm there again when they marry before a joyous nation. And when they're laid to rest on those solemn occasions that this country marks so well, I'm on hand to capture history being made. Once, I was on a plane with the King. We were about to land in some country, and I said, ‘The price of this job is huge for you. Your life is programmed, you’ve got to be fully briefed, you have crowds looking at you.’ He said, ‘That’s the price you pay for the privilege. It’s duty. Duty, duty, duty.’” In his book, Harry explains that he grew up as a traumatised child trapped inside a family business. Is it possible that he simply played the role of the charming prince – a role he felt duty-bound to perform in public – while suffering in private?
These days, Edwards claims, the royals could go skiing and not a single photographer would follow them. Mainstream press outlets don’t bother the children while they’re at school, and usually only cover royal events when they’re invited. Having taken the first public photo of Diana, Edwards also lived through the drama of her death. In between, he watched her two sons, Princes William and Harry grow up. He is a staunch supporter of King Charles and the Queen consort, Camilla, and went from being an aggressive photographer to a friendly acquaintance who is incredibly loyal to his ‘subjects.’In my company appraisal each year, there’s a line that says, ‘What are your ambitions for the following year?’ Every year, I put one thing: ‘To cover the coronation of the King’.
The publisher said: “With commensurate skill and unprecedented access, he has captured the candid moments when protocol is put aside, revealing the true personalities behind the Crown. This beautiful book is a treasure trove of glorious photography, along with Arthur’s own warm recollections of the stories behind his iconic shots. It is the perfect glimpse behind the scenes of the past 50 years of the British monarchy, from a truly unique perspective.” Royal photographer Arthur Edwards is seen with Prince Harry's hand print on his forehead during Prince Harry's visit to the TYLA (Turn Your Life Around) youth development centre in May, 2015. Photo by Lawrence Smith. Everybody laughed, and I looked a bit stupid. When we were washing up, I said, ‘What did you do that for?’ He said, ‘You went on TV and told everyone I was going bald’. I said, ‘Well, you told that woman yesterday’. He replied, ‘Yeah, but I didn’t need you to tell the whole world!’”
‘ABSOLUTE HONOUR’
Edwards said: “It’s been such a privilege being able to photograph the royal family for more than 45 years. In particular King Charles III, who has done more for me over those years than I could ever have done for him. He is a visionary. Every time I go to photograph him and his lovely wife is as exciting as the first time I ever photographed him. He is already proving to be a great monarch. I’m so pleased to be working with HarperCollins on Behind the Crown. It’s a wonderful collection of my favourite pictures of all the members of the royal family over the years. I hope people enjoy the book as much as I enjoyed taking these pictures.” In 2015, Prince Harry travelled to New Zealand for the first time. On a public walkabout, Edwards heard the prince tell a well-wisher, “I’m losing my hair, just like my father”. Arthur Edwards was the only photographer who travelled with Princess Diana to the Red Fort in India.
Great Deal 
New Comment