Photographer was strictly asked to capture 'frail' Queen only when 'she was seated'

Photographer Richard Pohle was asked not to capture the Queen while she was standing, he confirms.

Richard was the only photographer allowed inside the Westminster Abbey for Prince Philip memorial service and narrates how Buckingham Palace officers asked him to take pictures of the Queen only when she was seated.

He wrote in The Times: "Last week in Westminster Abbey I was with two smiling and pleasant press officers from Buckingham Palace, both of whom I had worked with before.

"They told me I would not be able to photograph the entrance of the Queen until, basically, they said I could."

His plea almost went in vain, even when he argued that BBC was broadcasting the full event, which meant everything from the Queen's entrance to the service would be seen by public. 

He added: "I tried holding my desperation in check and argued my case as I tried to devise a diplomatic solution, but I was by myself and had no one in authority to back me up.

"The palace officials stood firm, no pictures until she was seated."

Richard added he could no longer stay quiet when he spotted Andrew walking in with the Queen, and urged the officials to allow him to photograph the moment.

He said: "'I absolutely need to photograph this,' I said.

"The arrival of the Queen was now the major news event.

"I could see them wavering but they repeated that the no picture order 'came from the top' and that 'it wasn’t up to them'."

Richard put forward his BBC argument again and this time, he was allowed to take pictures after an officer made calls to the people responsible.