Royal photographers share their favorite candid photos of King Charles during his first year as monarch
Talia Lakritz,Mikhaila Friel
![Royal photographers share their favorite candid photos of King Charles during his first year as monarch](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-103509625%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-245738%2Froyal-photographers-share-their-favorite-candid-photos-of-king-charles-during-his-first-year-as-monarch.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
- King Charles ascended the British throne after the Queen's death a year ago on September 8, 2022.
- Royal photographers have shared their favorite candid images from the monarch's first year.
One year ago, Queen Elizabeth II's 70-year reign came to a close when she died on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96.
Her oldest son, Charles, ascended the throne following her death, becoming King Charles III.
Two royal photographers — Chris Jackson of Getty Images and Tim Rooke of Shutterstock — shared some of their favorite candid photos from his first year on the throne, from intimate snapshots with his family to powerful images taken during history-making events.
Photographer Chris Jackson took a quiet portrait of King Charles leaning against an oak tree when he became head ranger of Windsor Great Park in November 2022.
![Photographer Chris Jackson took a quiet portrait of King Charles leaning against an oak tree when he became head ranger of Windsor Great Park in November 2022.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103510048,width-700,height-525,imgsize-125814/photographer-chris-jackson-took-a-quiet-portrait-of-king-charles-leaning-against-an-oak-tree-when-he-became-head-ranger-of-windsor-great-park-in-november-2022-.jpg)
Charles' father, Prince Philip, was the longest-serving head ranger. He was appointed to the post by Queen Elizabeth in 1952 and held the role for almost 70 years until his death in 2021.
In this photo taken by Jackson in April, Charles and Prince William planted a tree at Sandringham House to mark the end of the Queen's Green Canopy initiative.
![In this photo taken by Jackson in April, Charles and Prince William planted a tree at Sandringham House to mark the end of the Queen](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103510037,width-700,height-525,imgsize-100672/in-this-photo-taken-by-jackson-in-april-charles-and-prince-william-planted-a-tree-at-sandringham-house-to-mark-the-end-of-the-queenaposs-green-canopy-initiative-.jpg)
The Queen's Green Canopy planted over 3 million trees around the world, according to the royal family's official website. Jackson called the initiative "an incredible project and legacy."
"Poignantly, I photographed Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles as they planted the first tree of the Queen's Green Canopy in Windsor, and I was in Sandringham years later to capture this moment as the king stood beside his son Prince William and they planted the last," he said.
Jackson captured a "never-before-seen perspective" of Charles and Queen Camilla from the balcony of Buckingham Palace following their coronation on May 6.
![Jackson captured a "never-before-seen perspective" of Charles and Queen Camilla from the balcony of Buckingham Palace following their coronation on May 6.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103510028,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1045108/jackson-captured-a-quotnever-before-seen-perspectivequot-of-charles-and-queen-camilla-from-the-balcony-of-buckingham-palace-following-their-coronation-on-may-6-.jpg)
While other photographers covered the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey and the procession through the streets of London, Jackson was stationed on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
As the king and queen walked onto the balcony to greet the crowds, he stood behind them to photograph "a very special behind-the-scenes moment on this historic day," he said.
Meanwhile, Shutterstock royal photographer Tim Rooke captured Charles waving to the crowds after his coronation ceremony.
![Meanwhile, Shutterstock royal photographer Tim Rooke captured Charles waving to the crowds after his coronation ceremony.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103510021,width-700,height-525,imgsize-337046/meanwhile-shutterstock-royal-photographer-tim-rooke-captured-charles-waving-to-the-crowds-after-his-coronation-ceremony-.jpg)
Speaking to Insider, Rooke said his favorite image from the king's first year on the throne was taken on the day of his coronation.
Rooke said many of the photographers had to overcome a major challenge to take the image of Charles waving to the crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, as it was raining at the time.
"Luckily, my role as a photographer with Shutterstock editorial allowed me to watch the ceremony from a room in Buckingham Palace," Rooke said.
"For my colleagues who were waiting to capture the king from the Queen Victoria Memorial opposite the balcony, they weren't so lucky and ended up soaked. Some of their equipment even failed," he added.
During their first visit to Northern Ireland as king and queen, Jackson photographed Charles and Camilla walking through a gate bearing their names in the new Coronation Garden.
![During their first visit to Northern Ireland as king and queen, Jackson photographed Charles and Camilla walking through a gate bearing their names in the new Coronation Garden.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103510007,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1462742/during-their-first-visit-to-northern-ireland-as-king-and-queen-jackson-photographed-charles-and-camilla-walking-through-a-gate-bearing-their-names-in-the-new-coronation-garden-.jpg)
The king and queen oversaw the official opening of the new Coronation Garden in Newtownabbey, commissioned in honor of their ascension to the throne.
"This was their first visit to Northern Ireland since their coronation, and it was a joyous occasion as they received a very warm welcome," Jackson said.
At the same event, Jackson photographed the royal couple cutting into a crown-shaped cake to to celebrate the opening of the garden.
![At the same event, Jackson photographed the royal couple cutting into a crown-shaped cake to to celebrate the opening of the garden.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103510004,width-700,height-525,imgsize-97370/at-the-same-event-jackson-photographed-the-royal-couple-cutting-into-a-crown-shaped-cake-to-to-celebrate-the-opening-of-the-garden-.jpg)
Jackson said he "loved this relaxed moment" showing Charles and Camilla laughing and cutting into the cake together.
Jackson captured the moment Charles and Camilla arrived at the Royal Ascot in style in June.
![Jackson captured the moment Charles and Camilla arrived at the Royal Ascot in style in June.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103509997,width-700,height-525,imgsize-59410/jackson-captured-the-moment-charles-and-camilla-arrived-at-the-royal-ascot-in-style-in-june-.jpg)
Jackson said that Charles and Camilla attended every day of the Royal Ascot, a horse-racing event the Queen loved, as they were "keen to continue her iconic legacy."
"It's well-known how much Royal Ascot meant to Queen Elizabeth, a keen breeder and racer of horses," Jackson said. "Having photographed her at this event for 20 years, it was evident how much she enjoyed it."
In July, Jackson photographed Charles' "warm greeting" for President Joe Biden when he arrived at Windsor Castle.
![In July, Jackson photographed Charles](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103509989,width-700,height-525,imgsize-365502/in-july-jackson-photographed-charlesapos-quotwarm-greetingquot-for-president-joe-biden-when-he-arrived-at-windsor-castle-.jpg)
Biden and Charles met at Windsor Castle to discuss climate issues and the relationship between their two countries. At the ceremonial welcome, Biden and the king watched a short procession of the Welsh Guards, a regiment of the British Army, before listening to the US national anthem.
Biden broke royal etiquette rules by touching Charles' arm and back, but Charles returned the favor by placing his hand on Biden's arm.
"The two leaders seemed to be getting on famously as they walked back to the dias after inspecting the troops," Jackson said.
In September, Jackson snapped a photo of Charles and Camilla sharing a laugh at the Highland Games in Braemar, Scotland.
![In September, Jackson snapped a photo of Charles and Camilla sharing a laugh at the Highland Games in Braemar, Scotland.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103509979,width-700,height-525,imgsize-519078/in-september-jackson-snapped-a-photo-of-charles-and-camilla-sharing-a-laugh-at-the-highland-games-in-braemar-scotland-.jpg)
Jackson said the Highland Games, located just down the road from Balmoral Castle, was an event the Queen "clearly loved and attended almost every year of her reign."
This year, King Charles and Queen Camilla attended on September 2.
"This is clearly a legacy that is important to the king and queen, and they really seemed to be enjoying themselves this year!" he said.
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