Chris Jackson on the New Royal Baby
On Monday, the world watched as Britain's new prince made his public debut, but very few people were there to witness it all first-hand. In the crowd of well-wishers and reporters outside the Lindo Wing was Chris Jackson, the official royal photographer for Getty Images, there to document the day.
Below, he shares what it was really like to photograph the new royal baby, along with a few of his favorite pictures of Prince William, Duchess Kate, and little Prince Louis.
On photographing the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their newborn son:
Days like this are the kind of thing you live for as a royal photographer. The opportunity to capture history in the making, especially around a story with such an incredible ‘feel good factor’ is a real privilege.
The day started off normally enough but when the news broke that the Duchess was in labor it was all hands on deck. For Getty Images, this was very much a team event and we covered the story from every angle. After rushing up to the Lindo Wing in Paddington, it was a case of preparing equipment and checking in with editors and the team, ready for an exciting day.
On the energy of the crowd:
Of course, with days like this it’s not just one moment. It was Prince William leaving the hospital as a new Dad with a huge grin, it was the moment he brought little Prince George and Charlotte back to meet their new brother for the first time and Charlotte turned and gave a sweet wave, it was the Town Crier loudly announcing the birth of a new Prince on the hospital steps, it was the atmosphere and the crowds; all important parts of the story.
Of course the biggest moment, and the one everyone was waiting for was when an immaculate Duchess of Cambridge came out with Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and presented their new son to the world. Hugely exciting, but pressure for a photographer to capture all the different shots in a relatively short amount of time.
On how it differed from Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s births:
Those nondescript brown doors to the Lindo Wing in Paddington have become the most watched entrance in the world! I will never forget the excitement around the birth of Prince George. After the royal wedding, an event watched by over 2 billion people around the world, there was huge anticipation for the birth of the Cambridge’s first child. The great "Kate Wait," as it has become known, was a period of huge media excitement and anticipation. The weather in London was hot and the excitement was bubbling at fever pitch as the world’s media descended on London.
After the birth of Princess Charlotte, the whole experience is now planned in exacting detail and every member of the media is allocated a specific position. There was still a huge amount of excitement, and it really is one of the best things about being a royal photographer that you are able to have a front row seat (or ladder!) to these historic moments.
With the build up to Prince Harry and Meghan’s wedding in Windsor it really is another example of why 2018 is turning out to be a seminal year for the royal family. A royal baby, two royal weddings, and numerous other historic moments mean this year will be a royal year not forgotten in a hurry.
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