London — The official photos taken for Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla ceremony were unveiled by the British royal family on Monday. The first of the photos, posted on the official Royal Family Twitter page, shows the King, who was officially crowned on Saturday, seated in ceremonial robes with his Sovereign’s Scepter in one and the Sovereign’s Orb in the other. ‘other.
Hugo Burnand/Royal Household 2023/Handout via REUTERS
As official photographer of the coronation, Hugo Burnand was entrusted with the production of the portraits of the royal couple which would forever symbolize the beginning of Charles’ reign. But Burnand told CBS News the weight of that responsibility would be the last thing on his mind as he looked through his camera to frame the royal family.
In an interview ahead of Saturday’s coronation ceremony at Old Westminster Abbey in London, Hugo told CBS News that one of the secrets behind carrying out such a monumental task is a good personal relationship with the ancient, like his, with the king and queen.
“Basically, it’s a question of emotion, and get the right emotion, I must have the right emotion,” Burnand told CBS News. “If you think too much, your mind gets distracted and you can’t connect with the person.”
Hugo Burnand/Royal Household 2023/Handout via REUTERS
He pointed out that focusing on the enormity of the task at hand “just wouldn’t work for me.”
“I stay true to myself and my relationship with him through the camera and trust that historically it worked,” he said.
Burnand spent years photographing the elite of British high society, plying his trade at events and parties for Tatler magazine. Rubbing shoulders with the upper classes so often eventually led him to photograph Camilla Parker Bowles – back when her only title was ‘Miss’.
Hugo Burnand/Royal Household 2023/Handout via REUTERS
His reputation as a royal photographer was cemented when he was asked to photograph Prince Charles and Camilla’s wedding in 2005. It was a career-defining job that he almost had to turn down because he was in South America. South at the time with his family. and all their passports were stolen.
Burnand described bringing in his own mother, also a photographer, as his “number one assistant” for the royal couple’s big day. He said the circumstances surrounding the filming of the wedding proved key to cementing his ties with the royal family.
“From that point on, we had a relationship that is more than just a photographer,” he said.
“So when you asked me, ‘What is it like to look through the lens and see King Charles III? Obviously I take note of what I watch,” Burnand said, becoming visibly emotional. “We’ve worked together for so long with this rather nice relationship that I’m seeing someone I already know quite well.”
Hugo Burnand/Royal Household 2023/Handout via REUTERS
Building trust with the royal family also earned him the opportunity to photograph the wedding of Prince William and Kate, the current Prince and Princess of Wales, in 2011. One of the photos he is most proud of captured the newlyweds surrounded by bridesmaids and pageboys in playful and relaxed poses, at an otherwise extremely formal event.
“It was the true characters of each individual that came out in that moment,” Burnand said proudly. “What you see in this photo is real life.”
But as important as his personal connection to his subjects may be, another secret to his success as a royal photographer is Burnand’s meticulous planning.
Keen to never keep his high-profile clientele waiting, he practices every step of a photoshoot by holding timed dress rehearsals, going so far as to get staff to step in and play each of the royals. The goal, he said, is to be prepared for any eventuality and to make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible. He even brings spares of every piece of equipment that might break down.
“We even practiced putting in the spare bulb,” he said, “just to see how I would react and how it would affect the timing of the whole thing.”
Bernard said knowing when he’s captured the footage he really wants is something he has to feel. He said he found he naturally snapped his fingers when he felt he had what he was looking for – and it was the moment he was looking forward to the most before coronation day.