This shot appears to have been produced in a studio, but it was actually captured by royal photographer Chris Jackson in 2012, when Queen Elizabeth visited the Lister Hospital.
In 2012, Queen Elizabeth visited a new maternity department at Lister Hospital.
Chris Jackson told Insider that when photographing the Queen, one must keep in mind that she is an incredibly iconic, globally renowned, and highly revered figure. “When the light falls in just the perfect way or you capture an expression that is little unexpected, you can snap a shot that will live on in the archives.”
Jackson noted the gentle lighting and clean background at the June 2012 opening of a maternity department at the Lister Medical in Stevenage, England, where Queen Elizabeth met with hospital employees.
“Nurses and physicians had assembled, and the Queen was looking up at them,” he explained. It makes me grin.
“It’s almost a cliche, but she truly shines when she’s around horses,” Jackson remarked of Queen Elizabeth after she won a prize at the 2013 Royal Ascot.
In 2013, during Ladies’ Day at Royal Ascot, Queen Elizabeth’s horse Estimate won the Gold Cup.
At the 2013 Royal Ascot, as her horse Estimate crossed the finish line, Queen Elizabeth became the first monarch in 202 years to win the famous Gold Cup.
Jackson stated, “It was evidently a major ambition of hers for this to occur.” Since the age of four, when she was given a horse named Peggy, horse breeding has been an integral part of her life. This was such a beautiful moment, because you could see her true pride and excitement as she was presented with the trophy. Her face lighted up, and you could practically see the gold in her eyes.
In 2014, Jackson shot a moving photograph of Queen Elizabeth visiting a memorial for dead troops of World War I.
In 2014, Queen Elizabeth sees the “Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red” installation at the Tower of London.
Photograph by Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Each ceramic poppy at the Tower of London’s “Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red” installation represents a fallen soldier.
“Remembering and reflecting on those who have made the supreme sacrifice is a vital aspect of her duty, and Remembrance Sunday is unquestionably one of the most significant events on the royal calendar,” Jackson added. “However, capturing a visual representation of how significant this is to the Queen was just remarkable.”
In 2019, he photographed Queen Elizabeth alongside Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince George, who was charged with preparing Christmas pudding for former military veterans.
Prince George prepares a Christmas pudding for former military personnel in the presence of Prince William, Prince Charles, and Queen Elizabeth.
“Prince George is obviously immersed in the moment as he prepares the Christmas pudding,” he remarked. It was a rare opportunity to get all four of them together in such a comfortable state.
At last year’s Trooping the Colour ceremony, Jackson perfectly timed this photograph of Queen Elizabeth.
Trooping the Colour takes place in front of Queen Elizabeth in 2021.
Jackson remarked, “What I enjoyed about this photograph was the use of a touch of imagination: a slightly slower shutter speed to capture the soldiers parading by the queen, and a slightly difficult photo to capture.” “For me, the opportunity to do something a little bit different and create something a little bit more unusual is quite rare because you’re often under a lot of pressure to capture a particular set of images. So I like this one — it’s a little bit more creative, and I think the movement gives it a bit of energy.”
Jackson has released “Elizabeth II: A Queen for Our Time” and “Modern Monarchy” containing his photographs of the royal family.