Royal Photographer Praises ‘Award-Winning’ Photo of Prince Andrew Following Arrest

The dramatic photograph of Prince Andrew sitting slumped in a police car following his recent arrest has been praised by legendary royal photographer Arthur Edwards as an “absolutely fantastic picture” that deserves an award.

A Picture Worth a Thousand Words

Edwards, who has covered the royal family for The Sun newspaper since 1974 and holds an MBE for his service to journalism, contacted photographer Phil Noble to congratulate him on capturing what many believe will become the defining image of Andrew’s arrest. The photograph shows the Duke of York appearing stunned and drawn as he sits reclined in the back of a police vehicle.

“I think it’s an absolutely fantastic picture. I think he won an award with it. It’s a great picture,” Edwards told broadcasters, while also noting that the image “doesn’t do Andrew any favors.”

The Art of Royal Photography Under Pressure

According to Edwards, capturing such a photograph requires equal parts skill and luck. “What you got to do is you’ve got to be very brave. You’ve got to follow the car around with the camera and hope you get the picture when you see the picture and hit the button at the right time,” he explained.

Noble, the Liverpool-based photographer who took the shot, reportedly had only one usable image out of several attempts – two showed police officers, two were blank, and one was out of focus. This highlights the challenging nature of what Edwards calls “car shots,” which he describes as “the hardest one of all to do” and “50% luck and 50% skill.”

A Royal Misstep in Crisis Management

Edwards suggested that Andrew’s positioning in the photograph was a tactical error that made the situation appear more dramatic than necessary. “If he’d have just sat normally like the other royals do when they’re in the car, it wouldn’t have been so dramatic,” the veteran photographer observed.

The photographer noted that as a member of the royal family, Andrew should have known better about managing his public image during such a sensitive moment. “He’s still a member of the royal family… you still don’t behave like that,” Edwards commented, referencing the royal family’s typically composed public demeanor.

American Interest and Congressional Calls

The arrest has generated significant attention across the Atlantic, with former ABC News correspondent Tom Rivers reporting that the story dominated American morning television shows. The development has renewed calls from U.S. lawmakers and Jeffrey Epstein survivors for accountability from those linked to the late convicted sex offender.

There have been long-standing congressional calls for Andrew to appear before a House oversight committee, either in person or via video link. Legal experts suggest that while a subpoena is possible, it may not be the route taken. The situation has bipartisan interest, with lawmakers from both parties viewing it as potentially opening “Pandora’s box” for other prominent figures who may have connections to the Epstein case.

Presidential Perspective

Former President Trump weighed in on the situation, calling it “very sad” for the royal family. “I think it’s so bad for the royal family. It’s very, very sad to me,” Trump stated, while also praising King Charles III ahead of his planned visit to the United States.

The Queen’s Absence

Edwards reflected on how the late Queen Elizabeth II would have reacted to seeing her son in such circumstances. He recalled the only time he witnessed the Queen cry publicly – during the decommissioning of the royal yacht Britannia. “I’m glad the queen’s not here to witness this in many ways because she would be mortified,” Edwards said, noting that Andrew was widely known to be her favorite son.

The photographer remembered how even after the Epstein allegations emerged, he had photographed the Queen and Andrew attending church together at Sandringham, demonstrating her continued support for her son despite the controversy.

Broader Implications

The case continues to develop as part of a larger investigation involving what reports suggest could be up to 3 million pages of documents related to the Epstein case. Legal observers note that this could potentially implicate other prominent figures in both the UK and United States, including politicians and business leaders.

As the story unfolds, the striking photograph captured by Phil Noble serves as a powerful visual representation of a moment that many believe will be remembered as a defining point in this ongoing saga. For Edwards, whose decades of experience photographing the royal family have given him unique insights into their public presentation, this image represents both exceptional photojournalism and a significant departure from the royal family’s typically controlled public image.

Source: 'I Think You'd Win An Award' | Royal Photographer Rates Photo Of Andrew In Car After Release (YouTube)