When Chris Jackson became Royal Photographer for Kensington Palace in 2015, he wasn’t quite prepared forCamilla’s enthusiasm. Though portraits are a regular part of his job capturing the elegance and stoicasmys often expected of royalty, he found himself surprised by Britain’s “Queen Consort.”
” Camilla brings this real warmth,” Jackson remarked. “While other members of the royal family you photograph are often posed and calculated to give that regal image,” he continued, “Camilla throws that out. You’ve got to roll with it.” What makes capturing Camilla so compelling goes beyond an initial energetic quality; there’s depth hidden within—a twinkle of intelligence backed by genuine, palpable humour. Jackson finds immense satisfaction in conveying both through his lens. That sense of “unpretentious regalness,” as he terms it, draws his heart to photographing the Camilla project most, and she consistently surprises him with unexpected poses and requests. One can’t deny the infectious nature of her character – radiating into portraits captured throughout years, showing us a royal who is undoubtedly loved.
While he’s respectful professional obligations towards all members of the Royal Family, Camilla undeniably brings unique energy to Jackson’s projects. Her collaborations reveal an image rarely glimpsed on regal photo shoots: a candid personality behind the crown with infectious joy; an undeniable warmth she shares willingly with subject and lens alike – and it captures the human heart, allowing his audience to connect with her more deeply on both levels, regal and relatable. As Jackson himself said, in regards to capturing her true form: “There needs to be something in my pictures that reflects [she has no pretensions or facade] – she’s not just who we’ve all heard about. She deserves far more depth.” The images of Kamala, captured through the heart of this brilliant photographer speak for themselves – a testament to genuine royal connection.
