Photography seems to become a royal thing. Queen Elizabeth II is known for her love for photography, and it looks like Kate Middleton is following her lead. But, aside from being a hobby, photography is said to be the royal family's "very own superpower."
In her appearance on BBC Four's The Royal Photo Album, Historian Lucy Worsley, a chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces, revealed the significance of photography for the royal family. Each photograph has an essential role in the "very survival" of the monarchy.
"Every image carries a message, and nobody understands this better than the royal family," she told The Times. If the photographs of the royal family's tour don't come up as great, the tour is often deemed a "failure."
Worsley explained that the royal tours are often shaped around photo opportunities. Despite their tour's agenda, its success always depends on how beautiful the captured images are, as these usually carry the message.
She also called photography "the stage," a platform where the royal family has been performing for the last 150 years or so. In fact, the royal family is known for being one of the early adopters of the photography, Daily Mail noted.
Unlike celebrities, who are trying not to get photographed, the royal family sees photography as an opportunity and not a problem. It is their chance to be more known by the public and even get closer to people. How?
The royal courts have been sharing the royal family's photographs. But, instead of being taken by professional photographers, the royal family themselves take their own pictures. Hence, it has become a "typical royal hobby," according to Royal Central.
In the early days, the royal court will usually contact a professional photographer to take the royal family's photos. This often happens on every occasion, like birth, christening, wedding, birthday, and anniversary, among others. Although they are still needed, there are times that the royal family themselves take their own pictures.
A royal photograph is an essential part of the monarchy's relationship to the public. Every royal family member can't meet all the citizens of the United Kingdom, so the images make them closer to the people.
This can give them the feeling of knowing everyone, especially the monarch, and create a good image for the head of state. Clearly, the photos can bring a high impact on the popularity of the royal family, becoming their superpower.
