The photographer behind the Queen's last official portrait says the background adds symbolic meaning to the image

• The Queen's Platinum Jubilee portrait was her last official portrait before her death.
• Photographer Ranald Mackechnie has captured a number of royal family members over the years.

When Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Platinum Jubilee in June, she released a new portrait to mark the occasion.

In the image, taken by photographer Ranald Mackechnie to celebrate the Queen's 70-year reign, the monarch wore a powder-blue dress and her signature pearls while sitting by a window with a blurred view of Windsor Castle in the background.

When the Queen died at the age of 96 on Thursday, Mackechnie's photograph became her last official portrait.

Speaking to Insider about the historic image, Mackechnie, 62, told Insider he only had a short window of time in which to capture the Queen's portrait and shared details of how it came to be.

Ranald Mackechnie photographed the Queen on 3 other occasions

Mackechnie — who lives in Canterbury and works from his London studio — said the opportunity to photograph the Queen for her Platinum Jubilee came about as a result of his existing relationship with the royal family.

He said he first photographed the Queen while providing private reference shots for a 2013 painting of the monarch by artist Nicky Phillips. According to the artist's website, Phillips was commissioned by the Royal Company of Archers to mark the 60th anniversary of the Queen's coronation; the image shows the Queen in her full robes, with the Order of the Garter alongside her two corgis and two dorgis.

This led to further opportunities for Mackechnie to photograph royal subjects, he said.

In 2015, Mackechnie photographed the Queen with her next three heirs — Charles, her eldest son; Prince William; and Prince George — in the White Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace. Mackechnie said he was chosen to photograph the royal family members for a set of stamps that were released in 2016 for the Queen's 90th birthday.

Mackechnie's next portrait of the Queen, taken in 2019 and released in 2020, showed the monarch posing again with Charles, William, and George in Buckingham Palace to mark the start of a new decade.

Mackechnie said the successful execution of these projects made him "a relatively safe pair of hands" when it came to Buckingham Palace selecting a photographer for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee portrait.

The photographer had 45 minutes with the Queen for his last portrait

A month before the Platinum Jubilee photo shoot took place, Mackechnie said he was granted access to Windsor Castle, where the image was taken. (Mackechnie did not immediately respond to Insider's request for further comment on when the photo shoot took place.)

"We had a look at the location and we discussed what the best place was," the photographer said. "Should she be in the chair? Should she be turned out, or sitting on the window seat?"

He added that he and an assistant were granted access to the castle again the day before the shoot to set up lights and take test shots without the Queen. "On the day of the shoot, all we had to do was turn up, turn the lights on and wait for her to arrive and put her in position," he said.

Mackechnie said that, on the day, he was too focused on the task at hand to be overwhelmed by his subject. He added that he was nervous the first time he photographed the Queen but with exposure he grew more at ease, and said the monarch responded well to clear direction as someone who was often photographed.

Despite the Queen's down-to-business approach, Mackechnie said "she's very sweet" and noted that they managed to have a laugh together. "She was an absolute pro in light conversation so it was pretty comfortable," he said.

Buckingham Palace wanted Windsor Castle's Round Tower as the backdrop, Mackechnie said

Mackechnie said he worked closely with Buckingham Palace's communications department before the photo shoot and they made it clear they wanted the Round Tower at Windsor Castle in the background because it was "symbolic."

According to the Royal Collection Trust website, William the Conquerer built Windsor Castle in the 11th century. Then, in 1170, a building known as the Norman keep was rebuilt as the Round Tower. Later, following George IV's ascension to the throne in 1820, the Round Tower was raised during an exterior remodel.

"It's the hub," Mackechnie said speaking of the tower, adding that it's one of the oldest parts of the castle and that it invited "lots of symbolism about the Queen and her place in our society and country and culture."

Mackechnie said he photographed the Queen in the Grand Vestibule, a singular vestibule where monarchs typically host world leaders and international guests, according to the Royal Collection Trust website. Mackechnie said the vestibule is close to the Queen's private apartment at Windsor, which he thought was convenient for the royal in light of her mobility issues at the time.

In May, representatives for Buckingham Palace told the BBC that the Queen was experiencing "episodic mobility problems," and would miss her usual appearance at the State Opening of Parliament. Insider reported that the Queen was seen weeks later at the Royal Windsor Horse Show using a walking stick for her first public outing since she pulled out of the engagement.

Months later, speaking of the aftermath of the Queen's death, Mackechnie said "it feels like something has shifted in the world now that she's not here."