The photographer who will take Prince William and Kate Middleton’s historic wedding day pictures has described his excitement at being chosen by the couple.
Hugo Burnand was frontrunner to win the commission after he was picked to capture the marriage of the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall on film in 2005.
But the importance of William and Kate’s pictures is not lost on the man who has photographed other high-profile clients such as Michael Jackson, painter Lucian Freud, former prime minister Lady Thatcher and businessman John Magnier.
Speaking from his Notting Hill studio in London about the commission, he said: “I’ve known for a while; a job like this is obviously a big job and a historic moment and I’ve had lots of time to go over lots of ideas.
“It’s such a wonderful honour to be taking this photo. I’m not nervous, I’m genuinely excited.
“I’ve had a bit of time to prepare and work out what I’m going to do – it’s like running a race, I just want to get on and run the race.”
Official royal wedding pictures are usually taken in the Buckingham Palace throne room but the photographer remained tight-lipped about if he would follow tradition or try something new.
He said: “I don’t want to blow any surprises but I do think people will be happy when they look at the pictures.”
Mr Burnand’s work with the Royal Family has earned him one of the most important jobs on any wedding day.
Prince Charles asked the photographer to take the birthday image that marked his 60th year in 2008.
In the picture, the heir to the throne wore the ceremonial uniform of the Welsh Guards but was shown in a very relaxed seated pose with his arm across the back of an ornate chair.
Mr Burnand, married with four children with wife Louisa, has also taken pictures of William and Prince Harry and the Queen.
When Mr Burnand, 47, photographed Charles and Camilla following their wedding ceremony, the smiling newlyweds were flanked by their respective families in one of Windsor Castle’s lavish rooms.
On one side of the white drawing room were the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and William and Harry, while on the other side were Camilla’s children Tom and Laura and her father Major Bruce Shand, who died a year later.
The photographer has had an interest in cameras since he was a young boy and is said to have learned to develop his films and make prints using a makeshift darkroom in his family’s kitchen.
After a number of careers, Mr Burnand decided to take up photography as a job only in the early 1990s and went on to win a long list of high-profile commissions.