'I'M ABLE TO CRACK A JOKE WITH THE KING AND QUEEN'

OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER HUGO BURNAND ON HIS CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ROYALS

-  LESLEY JONES

Setting off on his bicycle for Buckingham Palace on coronation day, royal photographer Hugo Burnand was just hours away from taking the official portraits of the newly crowned King Charles and Queen Camilla. As he cycled through Hyde Park in the sunshine, if he was feeling any nerves ahead of the momentous occasion, he certainly didn’t show it.

“Yes, it’s big, but I didn’t get blown away by the enormity of it – I was just photographing people I’ve known for a long time,” he smiles afterwards, settling down to talk to us at the luxurious COMO The Halkin hotel near the Palace. “I’m able to crack and share a joke with them and that enables me to get on with the job of photography without thinking, ‘Ooh it’s the King!’

“I can get emotional – I really hope I don’t today,” he says, having dashed to meet us from dismantling his equipment in the Throne Room. He’s funny and friendly, and asks for a glass of water, quipping, “If I have a gin and tonic I’ll tell you everything.” We can see why the royal family feel so at ease with him.

With a unique 20-year relationship reflected in the portraits he took on the day, Hugo, 59, has also photographed the weddings of King Charles and Queen Camilla as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales. They're not fools and they know that I’ve been round the block with them a few times. And this was the last official appointment, so could say, Come on, let's go for it, let's do it!’”

Since coronation day, Hugo's official portrait of the King has been seen all over the world and was taken with one very clear goal in mind to keep it real”.