Queen Elizabeth chose Prince Andrew to be her escort to Prince Philip's memorial service last week. However, the palace allegedly attempted to stop a photographer from taking photos of them because he was initially instructed to only start taking pictures once the Queen is seated.
Queen Elizabeth And Prince Andrew's Photos At Prince Philip's Memorial Photos Almost Didn't Happen
Richard Pohle shared his experience as the only photographer in Westminster Abbey during Prince Philip's memorial. He was the man behind the pictures of the Duke of York escorting the 95-year-old royal with mobility issues as she made her way inside the chapel.
"I had just been told by a Buckingham Palace press officer that I could not photograph the arrival of the Queen into Westminster Abbey. Only once she was seated, they said," Pohle wrote in an article for The Sunday Times. "Naturally, I balked at the order."
Pohle was with two smiling and friendly press officers from Buckingham Palace while waiting for the Queen to arrive in Westminster Abbey. He already worked with the pair before and they told him that he could only take photos once the Queen was seated.
As a rota photographer, who has been doing the job for years, Pohle had some issues with the instruction because he knew the importance of the monarch's arrival.
He understood that the instruction might sound fair to others because the Queen is already old and may need privacy due to her advanced age. However, he had a hard time accepting the order because "BBC is broadcasting the entire event to the world I think I should be able to take a picture as the only official photographer."
"I tried holding my desperation in check and argued my case as I tried to devise a diplomatic solution, but I was by myself and had no one in authority to back me up," Pohle continued. "The palace officials stood firm, no pictures until she was seated. And that’s when the news filtered through to us: the Queen would be escorted to her seat by the Duke of York. This changed everything."
At that point, Pohle told them that he had to take photographs of the Queen's arrival. However, they repeatedly told him "no" and reminded him that the order "came from the top" adding that "it was not up to them" to approve his request.
Pohle insisted to take photos and questioned the officers if they would also stop BBC from when the Queen arrived. So, one of the officers made a phone call.
While waiting for the approval, Pohle said he was already very tense. Then, a photographer from the main press outside the abbey texted him, "Have you heard? Prince Andrew is escorting the Queen inside. Good luck!" with laughing emoji.
Pohle said he felt sick. Shortly after that, the officer turned to him and told him, "Okay, you can photograph the arrival."
Queen Elizabeth And Prince Andrew's Photos Received Mixed Responses
The sight of the Queen walking inside the chapel with a walking stick in one hand and with Prince Andrew in the other received mixed responses. It raised some eyebrows because the monarch opted to have a controversial company.
Some said the royal family was being tone-deaf and insensitive for allowing Prince Andrew, who just settled a sexual assault just a few weeks ago, to have the center stage.
The Queen has four children but opted to have the disgraced royal as her escort. Some slammed the monarch and questioned her decision.
However, according to royal biographer Robert Jobson, Queen Elizabeth chose Prince Andrew because he is the only one among her children who has no partner. Jobson also defended the Queen from the "vitriol."
"The Queen made her decision for her own reasons. She was not bullied into [it] by Andrew," Jobson tweeted Thursday. "She asked him to accompany her, and if the Queen asks you to do something, it is not a request. The vitriol against Her Majesty is awful. I am not backing Andrew, but it was the Queen’s call."
Stay tuned for more news and updates about Queen Elizabeth, Prince Andrew and the other members of the royal family.
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