The Queen shares photos that prove Kate Middleton isn't the only keen photographer in the Royal household

The Queen has released three rare pictures in celebration of World Photography Day

BRAEMAR, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 02: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend the 2017 Braemar Highland Gathering at The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park on September 2, 2017 in Braemar, Scotland. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage)
(Image credit: Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty)

Kate Middleton may have earned a reputation as quite the budding photographer in recent years, but it looks like she's not the only Royal Family with a knack behind the camera. 


The Queen has shared three photos of her days from behind the lens in celebration of World Photography Day, giving royal fans a delightful peek into one of her lesser-known passions. 

While her Majesty now spends most of her time in front of the camera, it wasn't too long ago that she enjoyed snapping a few pictures herself. The rare throwback photos of the Queen taking photos (inception much?) span over a period of several decades, proving just how committed the British monarch was to the artistic hobby.  

In the first image, Her Majesty can be seen squinting through a digital camera in 1977. Donning white gloves and a matching hat, she looks deep in concentration as she angles the device to her liking. 

The next photo shows the suit-clad Queen in 1952 at Balmoral Castle, teaching a three-year-old Prince Charles how to use an old-fashioned movie camera as a baby Princess Anne looks on in curiosity. 

The final picture was taken in 1982 when Her Majesty was on a royal visit to the Pacific island of  Tuvalu. Wearing a floral pink hat and coordinated flowery dress—as well those signature gloves—she can be seen holding up a yellow camera to capture her gorgeous surroundings. 

The Queen isn't the only Royal Family member who enjoys creating memories through photography. Kate Middleton is also known for her love of the artform, experimenting with the camera in both her personal and professional life. Royal fans went wild earlier this month when a photo of Princess Charlotte looking like the Queen's mini-me taken by Duchess Kate was released, showcasing her raw talent for capturing those Kodak moments. 

She also released her Hold Still photography book, an exploration of how the pandemic affected Britain, in May. As the first published exhibition from the Duchess of Cambridge, the project was a major accomplishment for Kate and her team. In her latest Instagram post, she paid gratitude to those who helped make it happen with a touching tribute to its youngest finalists. 

"Photography has an amazing ability to create a lasting record of what we have all experienced and are experiencing," she captioned the series of images. "That’s why this #WorldPhotographyDay we wanted to celebrate the youth of the #HoldStill2020 photography project and share the images from the ten youngest finalists." 

The Duchess has also explored more historical issues in her photography, conducting a shoot in Kensington Palace back in January of WWII survivors and their families. Kate Middleton's photos of Holocaust survivors will now feature in a poignant war memorial in London, where they will be displayed alongside 50 other contemporary images of people who escaped the never-to-forgotten genocide.

 

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.


Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.