Her Majesties the Queens: Royal photographer's unique multiple portraits based on van Dyck's legendary Charles I

  • The Queen posed for formal portrait to celebrate her sixth decade as Colonel of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
  • Photographer Hugo Rittson-Thomas used mirrors to capture images of the Queen from the front, back and sides
  • The image was inspired by famous triple portrait of Charles I painted by Anthony van Dyck in 17th century
  • Prince William and the Duchess of Cornwall were also photographed for exhibition titled The Queen's People

By Katie Nicholl, Royal Correspondent For The Mail On Sunday

Published: 16:00 EST, 1 August 2015 | Updated: 22:53 EST, 1 August 2015

Getting the Queen to smile for a formal portrait is no easy feat, but photographer Hugo Rittson-Thomas has revealed how he achieved it for a striking quadruple image of the Monarch – just ask how she’d feel if her horse won the Derby.

The Queen, the subject of more than 100 official portraits during her reign, posed at Windsor Castle in 2013 to celebrate her sixth decade as Colonel of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. The photograph was officially unveiled today.

Inspired by Anthony van Dyck’s famous triple portrait of Charles I, Rittson-Thomas used mirrors to capture images of the Queen from the front, back and sides.

Mirror image: The Queen posed at Windsor Castle in 2013 to celebrate her sixth decade as Colonel of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

Mirror image: The Queen posed at Windsor Castle in 2013 to celebrate her sixth decade as Colonel of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

Inspiration: Photographer Hugo Rittson-Thomas drew from Anthony van Dyck’s famous triple portrait of Charles I, pictured

Inspiration: Photographer Hugo Rittson-Thomas drew from Anthony van Dyck’s famous triple portrait of Charles I, pictured

Strong: William, Colonel of the Irish Guards, was photographed in 2013 when he and Kate joined the regiment to celebrate St Patrick’s Day

Strong: William, Colonel of the Irish Guards, was photographed in 2013 when he and Kate joined the regiment to celebrate St Patrick’s Day

Elegant: Camilla's picture was taken earlier this year and she was photographed wearing formal attire, designed by Bruce Oldfield

Elegant: Camilla's picture was taken earlier this year and she was photographed wearing formal attire, designed by Bruce Oldfield

Smiling: The striking image of Her Majesty will form part of a new exhibition called The Queen’s People which opens on August 19

Smiling: The striking image of Her Majesty will form part of a new exhibition called The Queen’s People which opens on August 19

When he asked the Queen how she would feel if she won the Epsom Derby – the one classic that has so far eluded the avid horseracing fan – she beamed, and the photographer captured the moment.

Rittson-Thomas also revealed that he couldn’t resist asking the Queen about her starring role in the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympics when she appeared in a film alongside 007 star Daniel Craig.

He said: ‘I asked if she had enjoyed it and remember her saying she did and that she enjoyed having the corgis in the shoot and how they performed very well.’ And the photographer told how the Queen had to put him at ease during one particularly sticky moment.

He said: ‘The camera had a digital seizure about two-thirds of the way into the shoot, but she was very calm and cool, and put me at my ease. My brain had just frozen but she started talking to me and I was able to fix the problem in two minutes.

‘The roles were reversed – she was the one putting the photographer at ease.’

The image will form part of a new exhibition called The Queen’s People, which will also feature new photographs of the Duke of Cambridge. William, Colonel of the Irish Guards, was photographed in 2013 when he and his wife Kate joined the regiment to celebrate St Patrick’s Day.

Rittson-Thomas added: ‘The Duchess was asking some incredibly detailed questions. Now I realise why after her family photos were published – she’s an incredibly accomplished photographer.’

The exhibition will be held at the Eleven Gallery in Victoria, Central London, from August 19 until September 19.

The Earl Marshal Edward William Fitzalan-Howard
Colonel Charles Webb of the Military Knights of Windsor

The Earl Marshal Edward William Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk, left, and Colonel Charles Webb of the Military Knights of Windsor

Professor Anthony Mellows, former Lord Prior of the Order St John, the most senior non-royal member of the Order worldwide

Professor Anthony Mellows, former Lord Prior of the Order St John, the most senior non-royal member of the Order worldwide

A Musketeer
A Pikeman

Members of the Pikemen (right) and Musketeers (left), tasked with providing a Body Guard for the Lord Mayor of the City of London 

Dean of Windsor David Conner, a domestic chaplain to the Queen
Dominic Reid, Pageant Master of the Lord Mayor's Show

Dean of Windsor David Conner, a domestic chaplain to the Queen, left, and Dominic Reid, Pageant Master of the Lord Mayor's Show, right

Staff of the Royal Mews, which provides road transport for members of the Royal Family by both horse-drawn carriage and motor car
Staff of the Royal Mews, which provides road transport for members of the Royal Family by both horse-drawn carriage and motor car

Staff of the Royal Mews, which provides road transport for members of the Royal Family by both horse-drawn carriage and motor car

York Herald Michael Peter Desmond O'Donoghue,
Lawrence Ward, who resigned from his post of Serjeant at Arms earlier this year

York Herald Michael Peter Desmond O'Donoghue, left, and Lawrence Ward, who resigned from his post of Serjeant at Arms earlier this year 

Former Queen's Piper Pipe Major Derek W J Potter
Former Queen's Remembrancer Steven Dixon Whitaker, right

Former Queen's Piper Pipe Major Derek W J Potter, left, andSteven Dixon Whitaker, the former Queen's Remembrancer, right

Doorkeeper of the House of Commons
Lieutenant-General Arundell David Leakey, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod

Doorkeeper of the House of Commons, left, and Lieutenant-General Arundell David Leakey, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod

Robert James Rogers, Baron Lisvane, retired from his post as Clerk of the House of Commons last year

Robert James Rogers, Baron Lisvane, retired from his post as Clerk of the House of Commons last year

A Chelsea Pensioner
Jonathan Peter Marland, Baron Marland of Odstock
Military Knight of Windsor Lieutenant Colonel W Jolyon Willans

A Chelsea Pensioner, left, Baron Marland of Odstock, centre, and Military Knight of Windsor Lieutenant Colonel W Jolyon Willans

Comments (352)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

 View all

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now