The Queen’s Photographer Opens Up About The Happy Moments Of Her Final Pictures

Queen Elizabeth II was one of the most-photographed women in the world, but the final photos taken of her capture some especially precious moments for her ardent fans. This was the very last time images of the monarch would ever be caught on camera. Looking back, one can reflect with sadness; still, the photographer and others present have shared some happy revelations about the scene that will be preserved forever in those pictures.

The final photos

As befitting a woman of her stature, the occasion was a significant one. New British Prime Minister Liz Truss needed the long-standing regal go-ahead to form a government following her election. This tradition stretches back a long way. You may be familiar with the Queen’s many audiences with Britain’s leaders from the Netflix drama The Crown. But this was the real deal.

An unexpected trip

Prime Minister Truss had to travel up to Balmoral, rather than meet the monarch in London as is typical. The unorthodox trip itself suggested that all was not well with the Queen. Her frail appearance and absence from public duties was being noted by the media and the public. Despite this, the national routine had to be maintained. Including having a photographer present.

Who took these iconic photos?

Jane Barlow, who works for the Press Association, was given the higher-than-high-profile assignment of snapping not only the Queen, but also a new Prime Minister. A daunting task, for certain, but also one for a pro who’s quick on the button. Aside from photographing the meeting, Barlow had her own private audience with Elizabeth. It was short and, it seems, sweet.

Audience with Her Majesty

What is the protocol for such occasions, and what’s expected of these prestigious photographic subjects? Reading the Institute For Government’s webpage, you can see it’s already been adjusted to read “the King” rather than “the Queen.” This efficiency is par for the course. Every detail has been considered and the routine is clear. After all, 10 Downing St. must be occupied!

Outgoing premier

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson was also required to travel to Balmoral. He had to have his own audience with Her Majesty, in order to officially tender his resignation. The famously attention-grabbing politician reportedly enjoyed his final meeting with the monarch. Once he was out of the door, his replacement arrived. The “kissing of the hands” could now begin! But what do we mean by this?

Regal handshakes

According to the Institute For Government, this is only a saying. In these COVID-wary times, we imagine placing your lips anywhere upon the royal personage would be discouraged anyway! Joking aside, the new Prime Minister’s role in this situation is to wait for an all-important question from the monarch’s lips. That is, the head of state must ask the individual to form a new government.

When Liz met Liz

How did this go for Truss? It’s desirable for such occasions to run like clockwork — the margin for error is miniscule. That said, nerves are to be expected. Not just for Truss, but also for Barlow, who was expected to hold the camera steady for the big moment. The snapper’s images show the stiff tradition, but also the humanity behind the long-established occasion. 

Truss comments

What did the new Prime Minister think as she came away from that meeting? We don’t know that exactly. Still, when news of the Queen’s failing health and subsequent death came in, she gave a speech. “Britain is the great country it is today because of her,” Truss said. She also stated, “Her devotion to duty is an example to us all.”

Bags of significance

That latter quote was a direct reference to her meeting with the monarch. You can see from the photos that a handshake was offered, followed by an exchange of words. However things went, we imagine the atmosphere was more formal than chatty. And the presence of the Queen’s handbag was noted by some. Why? Because of its social significance in public situations.

Armed and dangerous

It’s said that when the Queen has her handbag on her arm, it can be used to indicate to staff whether the conversation she’s having is an interesting one. By moving the bag from one arm to the other, staff know that she wants to move on. This didn’t happen here, though in fairness the option of steering the Prime Minister away wasn’t on the table. 

Barlow’s thoughts on Elizabeth

Aside from this, it’s clear that Elizabeth was frail but happy, as revealed by the smile on her face as she supported herself with a stick by the roaring fire. What experience did Barlow have with the then-Queen as they discussed the business of the day? “She did comment on how dark it was outside,” Barlow said, quoted by British newspaper the Daily Mail.

Clouds on the horizon

This was “because the weather had closed in”. Elemental forces aside, Elizabeth “seemed in very good spirits.” Barlow added, “Obviously she was very frail but she was very smiley.” This must have put the photographer at ease, if only briefly. In fact, according to Barlow, “She seemed very happy, very smiley”.

Death of the Queen

Two days later the tragic news broke that Elizabeth had passed away at Balmoral Castle. The stately pile had been a much-cherished family home for her. Much has been said by commentators and the public about her affection for Scotland, so it made perfect sense for her to see out her days in this picturesque location. She’d reached the ripe old age of 96.

The final journey

From Balmoral, her body was taken to St. Giles Cathedral in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, for another historic tradition. The late Queen lay at rest there for 24 hours, and what’s more her family joined her for a special vigil. At each side of her coffin stood King Charles III, the Duke of York, the Earl of Wessex and the Princess Royal. Their personal contribution lasted ten minutes.

Vigil of Princes

Queen Consort Camilla was also in attendance, alongside the Countess of Wessex. The occasion is referred to as the “Vigil of Princes”. Photos were taken of the intimate affair, again by Barlow. Approximately 33,000 members of the public visited the cathedral to pay their respects, according to BBC News. From here, the coffin traveled to London.

Westminster waits

There it rested at Westminster Hall, while members of the public queued for hours in order to view the casket one last time. Those wishing to join the line should probably check the government’s own live tracker, which predicts a waiting time of several hours. The BBC is also live-streaming proceedings for those who are unable to attend in person. 

The State Funeral

The State Funeral took place Monday, September 19. Many businesses and public locations announced closures in tribute. Not all these closures have been welcomed by all, but such gestures reflect the seismic impact Elizabeth’s death had on members of the population. Her long reign has finally come to an end, with the recent Platinum Jubilee celebrations having marked 70 years on the throne.

Mourners and milestones

This milestone made Elizabeth the country’s longest-serving monarch: she ruled the U.K. from the tender age of 25. On the photographic front, numerous home movies were produced by the Windsors, with the future Queen originally appearing as a young and seemingly carefree princess. These films were broadcast to acclaim. And another of her last film-footage roles was opposite another British icon: Paddington Bear.

She clicked with the public

There are no shortage of photos when it comes to Elizabeth. For this reason alone, they will surely rank among the most talked-about royal images in recent history, offering a glimpse into Elizabeth II’s final days. And the Queen was famous for keeping her personal thoughts private throughout her life. Luckily, though, her staff have let slip some touching insights into what Elizabeth was really like when the world wasn’t watching. 

At home and around the world

With so many staff on call, often working 24 hours a day, it’s no surprise those toiling away behind the scenes gained an up-close-and-personal view of the former monarch. Whether at Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, St James’ Palace, her beloved Scottish home of Balmoral or traveling the globe, staff members had to be anywhere and everywhere. 

Ask Jeeves?

The traditional image of the royal family features various “below-stairs” types, such as butlers, maids and assorted tradesmen. TV shows including Downton Abbey give us a detailed, if fictionalized, portrait of aristocratic life. Does this apply to the lofty heights of Buckingham Palace? Well, yes and no. The royals certainly do have butlers, as the high-profile presence of ex-staffer Paul Burrell indicates. 

491 staff members

The Queen reportedly employed hundreds of staff. She had people to clean rooms — of which there are an eye-watering 775 in Buckingham Palace alone! But of course, a vast property requires roles of all kinds. Reporting on the Palace’s employment situation in 2016, Forbes magazine mentions the kind of jobs you might expect, such as footmen. Yet it also refers to engineers, and even vase polishers. Yes, you read that correctly!

A polished existence?

Of course, Elizabeth owned some pretty rare and expensive vases, hence why a specific individual was needed to keep them looking their best. Was a vase polisher the best position from which to obtain a behind-the-scenes view of her secret life? Possibly not, we’re thinking. Yet others worked at closer quarters, and would have seen more than most.

Protecting the legacy

In 2019 website Insider spoke to those who’ve ventured inside the luxurious palaces as bodyguards and photographers, among other roles. Getty Images’ royal snapper Chris Jackson spoke about the special challenges involved when trying to capture Britain’s first family on film. He attends multiple events, each of which has a protocol and a way of addressing family members, not just Her Majesty. 

A subject for framing

He revealed that the royals are so busy at times, he simply can’t keep track of everything he needs to photograph. For those moments, he has to prioritize, or maintain a packed schedule that means he misses out on lunch. Not that he’s alone in this: apparently the former Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, has also been known to skip a meal or two. 

Servant of the people

Meanwhile, Simon Morgan worked as a protection officer for Elizabeth. Charged with watching out for the safety of the late Queen and her family members, Morgan admitted to often experiencing a degree of discomfort. This doesn’t surprise us, to be honest! Speaking to Insider about the ins and outs of walkabouts, he outlined the surprisingly subtle balance needed when mingling with the public.

Eagle eyes and obscure expressions

Naturally people were enthusiastic about seeing the Queen. Others had the right not to be, of course, though this presented its own challenges. “You don’t want to underreact or overreact,” Morgan said, “because it could just be someone who doesn’t smile. But it could be someone not smiling because they wish to cause the royal family harm.” Talk about pressure in the workplace!

Rooting for Her Majesty

Alongside that pressure though, came the day-to-day business of protecting the Queen. That reportedly involved meetings: lots and lots of them. Planning a walkabout and other activities required precision, and Morgan noted how this side of the job was less than exciting but wholly necessary. Aside from studying potential assassins and talking about routes, there was further tension regarding surroundings.

Coffee with Camilla

Adapting to the hallowed halls of royalty proved an issue. Other staff have talked about the treatment they received in iconic properties, where delicious breakfasts, and even the startling image of the former Duchess of Cornwall — now Queen Consort — making someone a cup of coffee, led to them feeling truly special. It’s a potent experience but also a dangerous one, perhaps.

Deference and delusions

How so? Well, going from regular digs to royal palaces can leave a major impression on an individual. Morgan delivered a much-needed reality check, reminding readers that it’s “the principal’s life, not yours. And if you don’t understand that, you will be compromised.There will be alarm bells.” We imagine they’re rather pleasant alarm bells, but it’s a warning all the same.

Their lips are sealed

It comes as no surprise to learn that working for the monarch involves a high level of secrecy. Staff sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) to preserve the royal mystique. Still, as we’ve seen, some cautiously reveal what goes on inside these historic buildings, and with the highly historic personalities. What about the nitty gritty, so to speak, of day-to-day business?

Living with the Queen

Writing for British newspaper the Daily Mail, commentator and media personality Gyles Brandreth gave readers an in-depth look at Her Majesty’s daily routine. This was based on his years of meeting her personally; he described her as “normal” and “quite straightforward”. He then went on to detail what took place at Buckingham Palace and beyond, starting with a perhaps-surprising location…

A royal breakfast

The late Queen’s bedroom! Her Majesty’s wake-up call was reportedly at 8:00 a.m. — not too early and not too late. Earl Grey tea was on standby to help ready her for the day’s duties. Again, all seemingly ordinary. Then it came to the royal bath. We won’t go into too much detail here, but still, Brandreth has some intriguing stats concerning a potential splashabout.

Raised temperatures

Did you know that Her Majesty’s baths needed to be at a certain temperature, and even a certain depth? A reported 7 inches, at 72F. There was no skimping on the specifics either apparently, no matter the circumstances. A thermometer ensured that exactly the right temperature was reached. From there, it was time to dress and eat some breakfast.

That sucks

Another fascinating detail Brandreth reveals concerns the protocol regarding vacuuming. The royal cleaners were expected to keep appliances switched off until the appointed time of 8:00 a.m. A picture is forming of staff members having to observe a stringent set of rules, as one might expect. Some aspects of palace life are ordinary — others are different. Extremely different! 

Nice and toasty

After all, who else but Elizabeth would have a piper puffing out a tune as she prepared for her day? From vase-handlers to musicians, the roster of staff at Buckingham Palace is more varied than you might think. Her Majesty’s breakfast, on the other hand, was less fancy. Brandreth mentions cereal, toast and marmalade. A poignant condiment indeed.

Peru-sing the papers

A recurring image from recent coverage of Elizabeth’s life is that of her audience with Paddington Bear, an episode recorded for the Platinum Jubilee. It was here she revealed their shared passion for marmalade sandwiches, though this might well have been something of an exaggeration. According to the article, Her Majesty enjoyed one slice of toast and a small amount of marmalade for breakfast. 

Down to business

We should point out that, unlike other outlets, we acknowledge Paddington is a fictional character! The top-secret short featured star Ben Whishaw on voice duties and writer/cast member Simon Farnaby as, appropriately enough, a royal attendant. Elizabeth would have squeezed Paddington into her constantly-moving schedule. That said, her work proper usually started at the relatively leisurely time of 10:00 a.m.

A surprisingly mischievous side

Of course, Elizabeth didn’t need a computer-generated bear to express her sense of fun. One detail that has emerged following her death are anecdotes concerning her love of humor… and even pranks. Yes, it seems the Queen enjoyed playing tricks just as much as the next person. One incident of this nature took place in Scotland, the country she loved so much.

Tourist treat

Speaking to broadcaster Sky News, former protection officer Richard Griffin spoke about the time her royal party encountered some tourists from the U.S. while out walking in the Scottish countryside. The visitors naturally spoke of their interest in the monarch, who they knew lived in the area. Yet there’s a twist in the story: they didn’t know it was the Queen to whom they were talking!

Don’t you know who one is?

Her Majesty reportedly wore a headscarf, so perhaps their mistake is understandable in some ways. Even so, they didn’t twig what was going on with this elderly lady and her entourage. And by all accounts Elizabeth clearly had no intention of telling them who she was! Things got surreal when the tourists asked for a photo with Mr Griffin.

Guarding the secret

Who was asked to take the picture? Elizabeth, of course. The former monarch was apparently happy to oblige, and to pose for her own photo with the Americans. Not letting on about her super-secret identity, she also mischievously put Griffin on the spot when the tourists asked her whether she’d met… herself. “Well I haven’t,” she reportedly replied, “but Dickie here meets her regularly.” 

Hilarity in the Highlands

Griffin was then put in the position of giving his opinion on the royal personage, with Her Majesty in attendance! He stated she was sometimes “very cantankerous” but with “a lovely sense of humor.” The parties then parted ways, with Elizabeth expressing a desire to be a fly on the wall when the penny finally dropped. An amusing and revealing anecdote.

Communication skills

It’s tempting to think of folk being pushed aside, or kept at arm’s length, when running into the former Queen in a casual setting. In this case the opposite is true, with Elizabeth happy to mingle and cause some trouble along the way. She was also a monarch who liked sharing a joke with her closest staff. And such closeness also resulted in some royal shorthand.

Arming herself

By this we mean little gestures which the former Queen used to indicate things to her staff. Newspaper the Daily Mirror focused on her handbag, which could be employed to devastating effect. For instance, moving the bag between arms reportedly meant Her Majesty wanted to move on from a chat. Staff would then duly interrupt proceedings! More polite than someone being bundled away, we’re guessing.

Happy Birthday to oneself… now hold one’s bag

Her bag also took pride of place in a 90th birthday family portrait, where it was held by Mia, her great-granddaughter. So this item obviously played a key role in daily life. We know that the former Queen kept her marmalade sandwiches in it, for starters! Ultimately though, only those closest to her on the staff appreciated the true significance.

The Queen’s staff keep the faith

As one royal chapter draws to a close, another opens in the form of King Charles III and his forthcoming reign. While staff positions at his former residence of Clarence House are reportedly being cut, the traditions and routine embodied by royal service carry on. Without their loyal staff, the royal family would be lost, and the late Queen was no exception to this rule.