Royal Family Project
by Sheila Clark
My interest in the Royal Family started about 1961/1962 when I was a little girl living in London. My first memory of H.M. The Queen was seeing her leave Buckingham Palace. She was wearing a yellow outfit and had a pair of white gloves. Much of my time in the early years of my life was spent around Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, Kensington Palace and the parks in that area.
I moved to Scotland in 1967 and my interest In The Royal Family continued to develop. By the time of the investiture of The Prince of Wales in 1969 I was already reading materials on the subject. Around that time the BBC began their Drama Programs on Henry V11, The Six Wives of Henry V111 and Elizabeth R. Those 3 productions helped to cement my interest further. History turned out to be my best subject at school.
Along with my Royal interest I was also developing my interest in photography. In 1977, I took my first photo of H.M. The Queen in Hope Street in Glasgow at the start of her Silver Jubilee Tour in May and of H.R.H. The Prince Of Wales in June during his visit to Eastwood Park. Over the last 35 years I have travelled all over the UK to see members of The Royal Family and in doing so I have also made a lot of friends with people who share my interest. My mother, who was a lifelong Royalist, travelled with me until her death in 2004.
I have taken thousands of photographs at various events. Sometimes the engagement might be low key like the bi-annual Sale of Work at Crathie Kirk attended by H.M. The Queen or it could be something major like Trooping The Colour held in June every year. Some years there are special events like the wedding of H.R.H. Prince William to Miss Catherine Middleton or the celebrations for The Golden or Diamond Jubilee. When I go along to engagements, sometimes I am lucky enough to be able to present a photograph to a member of the Royal Family as well as add to my photo collection.
H.M. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was perhaps my favourite Royal to photograph and chat to. She had an amazing ability to make you feel special for the few moments she was with you, even if there were hundreds of other people there. I also enjoy meeting and photographing H.M. The Queen, H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, H.R.H. The Duchess of Cornwall, H.R.H. The Duke of Cambridge, H.R.H. Prince Harry and more recently H.R.H. The Duchess of Cambridge. I am always delighted and also honoured if one of them stops to speak.
Sometimes it is a challenge. Arriving early to secure a position is vital but carriages can move fast or members of the press get in the way at
the last minute. Unlike other subjects, you cannot get them to pose and inevitably a member of security will be in the background.
Being a “Royal Photographer“ can be a challenge but even after all these years I find it very enjoyable and there is often a great atmosphere,
especially at major events such as the recent Diamond Jubilee. I recently staged an exhibition of my photos at the school where I am a teacher. I felt very honoured when the depute Lord Lieutenant of South Lanarkshire visited the school and presented both the school and myself with a certificate for my efforts.
Sheila Clark
I moved to Scotland in 1967 and my interest In The Royal Family continued to develop. By the time of the investiture of The Prince of Wales in 1969 I was already reading materials on the subject. Around that time the BBC began their Drama Programs on Henry V11, The Six Wives of Henry V111 and Elizabeth R. Those 3 productions helped to cement my interest further. History turned out to be my best subject at school.
Along with my Royal interest I was also developing my interest in photography. In 1977, I took my first photo of H.M. The Queen in Hope Street in Glasgow at the start of her Silver Jubilee Tour in May and of H.R.H. The Prince Of Wales in June during his visit to Eastwood Park. Over the last 35 years I have travelled all over the UK to see members of The Royal Family and in doing so I have also made a lot of friends with people who share my interest. My mother, who was a lifelong Royalist, travelled with me until her death in 2004.
I have taken thousands of photographs at various events. Sometimes the engagement might be low key like the bi-annual Sale of Work at Crathie Kirk attended by H.M. The Queen or it could be something major like Trooping The Colour held in June every year. Some years there are special events like the wedding of H.R.H. Prince William to Miss Catherine Middleton or the celebrations for The Golden or Diamond Jubilee. When I go along to engagements, sometimes I am lucky enough to be able to present a photograph to a member of the Royal Family as well as add to my photo collection.
H.M. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was perhaps my favourite Royal to photograph and chat to. She had an amazing ability to make you feel special for the few moments she was with you, even if there were hundreds of other people there. I also enjoy meeting and photographing H.M. The Queen, H.R.H. The Prince of Wales, H.R.H. The Duchess of Cornwall, H.R.H. The Duke of Cambridge, H.R.H. Prince Harry and more recently H.R.H. The Duchess of Cambridge. I am always delighted and also honoured if one of them stops to speak.
Sometimes it is a challenge. Arriving early to secure a position is vital but carriages can move fast or members of the press get in the way at
the last minute. Unlike other subjects, you cannot get them to pose and inevitably a member of security will be in the background.
Being a “Royal Photographer“ can be a challenge but even after all these years I find it very enjoyable and there is often a great atmosphere,
especially at major events such as the recent Diamond Jubilee. I recently staged an exhibition of my photos at the school where I am a teacher. I felt very honoured when the depute Lord Lieutenant of South Lanarkshire visited the school and presented both the school and myself with a certificate for my efforts.
Sheila Clark
