Coronation photographer Hugo Burnand reveals ‘lovely buzz’ in throne room during historic photoshoot

The atmosphere in Buckingham Palace’s iconic throne room was “cosy” during the coronation photo shoot, according to the official photographer.

Hugo Bernand, who was behind the official royal snaps, has shared his experiences during the historic day on May 6.

According to the photographer, who also documented Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding, there was a “wonderful buzz” as he set up and shot the coronation photos.

Talking to the Independent, he said, “There was definitely a happy feeling. It was fun with family, children and friends walking around.’

He said the “beautiful” and “uplifting” atmosphere was partly due to the presence of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

“It was like the last bit of the race [for the royal family]Hugo added. “There was an energy there that I know I got in the pictures.”

The series of portraits, taken just minutes after the family’s balcony moment, includes images of King Charles and Queen consort Camilla, as well as other members of the “downsized” monarchy.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and Princess Anne also feature in some shots.

Hugo, who revealed to the outlet that he cycled to the palace that day, said he only had an hour to take the photos. To save time, he had set up four cameras on tripods.

He added that knowing the people he was photographing also helped create images with humanity, within the limited time frame — he was also the snapper at Charles and Camilla’s wedding in 2005.

Regardless, the father of four has had tremendous success – he’s now the only portrait photographer with a royal warrant from the king.

He has been capturing royal portraits for nearly two decades. But he first turned down the opportunity that launched him into his career as a royal photographer – Charles’ wedding to Camilla wedding in 2005.

Mr Burnand, a society photographer for Tatler magazine, had taken a career break in 2004 to take his young children to South America for six months.

Hugo Burnand (pictured) also took the photos at Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding, as well as Charles and Camilla’s wedding in 2005

Disaster struck when thieves stole the family’s money, passports and Hugo’s camera gear.

It wasn’t until the photographer found an internet cafe to contact his insurers that he saw an email from Clarence House asking him to get in touch.

He initially said no to the job, but said that while trekking through the jungle, he realized he had just turned down the opportunity of a lifetime – the marriage of the future king.

This change of mind changed his life and since then he has photographed William and Kate’s wedding in 2011, taking official portraits of Charles on his 60th and 70th birthdays, and of Charles and Camilla leading up to the coronation.

He also photographed the Princess Royal on her 70th birthday and took the official photos for Lady Gabriella Windsor’s wedding in 2019.

Born in Cannes, France, Hugo grew up in Berkshire and attended Cheam School in Headley, Hampshire, the prep school where the King and the late Duke of Edinburgh attended.

According to photographer Hugo, he only had about an hour to take the coronation photos, which included this portrait of King Charles

He won his first photography competition at the school when he was seven years old, and practiced his skills while at Harrow, taking portraits of school leavers.

His mother Susan Gordon was killed in a car accident in 1964, the year after he was born, and he was raised by his father Peter and his stepmother Ursy, from whom he learned his early photography skills.

After working as a groomsman and then an insurance broker at Lloyd’s of London, he became a professional photographer at the age of 27 and worked for over 20 years as Tatlers’ society photographer for the Bystander party column.

He took the photos at David and Samantha Cameron’s wedding in 1996 and his other famous subjects include Spike Milligan, Victoria Beckham and Michael Jackson.

But he is best known for his images of the royal family, following in the footsteps of Cecil Beaton, who photographed Queen Elizabeth II after her coronation in 1953.