Royal photographer recalls brutal comment made to young Prince Harry by protection officer


Arthur Edwards has been photographing the royal family for more than 50 years and has been witness to some extraordinary moments


Princess Diana, holding a young Prince Harry in her arms as she watches Trooping the Colour with Princess Margaret from the balcony of Buckingham Palace  in 1988© Tim Graham Photo Library via Get
Gemma Strong
Gemma StrongSenior freelance writer
55 minutes ago

Prince Harry has made much of his position in the royal family as the 'spare' - so much so that he famously gave the title to his memoir.

It's a role he has said was made explicitly clear and regularly reinforced throughout his life. And that's something royal photographer Arthur Edwards can attest to. 

Arthur, 86, has spent the last 50 years taking snapshots of the royal family and, as such, spent time with both Prince Harry and Prince William when they were young.

He is now preparing for the release of his book, Cup of Tea, Arthur? My Extraordinary 50 Years Photographing the Royal Family. And ahead of its publication, he sat down for an interview with the Telegraph, in which he recalled a heartbreaking incident involving Harry. 

'It's the only bleeding castle you're likely to get'

Arthur, who describes Harry as a "born comedian and mimic", recalled a moment on a beach in Norfolk in 1986.

He remembered the boys' nanny "was making a big fuss of William" ("as usual"), leaving a protection officer to tell his two-year-old brother: "Come here, Harry. I'll build you a sandcastle. 

"It's the only bleeding castle you're ever likely to get."

Elsewhere in the interview, Arthur reflected on Harry's explosive memoir, which he admits he did not finish, having watched much of its contents firsthand and been irritated by the "factual errors".

Royal photographer Arthur Edwards© AFP via Getty Images
Royal photographer Arthur Edwards

Harry was a 'great star'

While he hates the "vitriol" that he says Harry "poured on his family", Arthur admits he's glad he has returned to the UK. "I'm glad he's back, and I hope he gets involved.  He was a great star."

He also believes that Harry will be able to bounce back in Britain - "people have got short memories" - and he will be better off in his homeland rather than the States.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive at Nuku'alofa airport© Getty
Harry and Meghan relocated to the UK in August

"There, he was a celebrity among thousands of celebrities," he said. "Here, he’s a prince of the realm. He might not be the knight in shining armour at the moment, but knowing him he’ll bounce back. People have got short memories.

"I think, hopefully, if he just stops writing books and Meghan stops making horrible jam, and they start working a bit for the family, I think things could change."

He notes that he did not approve of the comments Harry has made about his brother William and Queen Camilla in Spare but he has another pressing issue - the fact that Harry and Meghan make a point of sharing photographs of their children with their faces turned away.

"I do hope to get to see their faces one day before I die!" he told the publication. 

Cup of Tea, Arthur? My Extraordinary 50 Years Photographing the Royal Family by Arthur Edwards (£25, HarperCollins) is published on 5 November.

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