Legendary Royal photographer Arthur gets surprise ‘gong’ on Australia visit
Royal photographer Arthur Edwards was awarded a gong on his 31st trip Down Under to cover the Royal Family — as the King told him “take it easy”.
Arthur, 84, was presented with the Governor-General’s Medallion at Admiralty House in Sydney. The honour — which recognises significant contributions to Australia — was given as the King and Queen rounded off their successful six-day visit to Oz.
Arthur took time out to chat with Their Majesties and catch up with all the events of the past few days after covering every minute of the trip. And before he took the final photo of the couple waving goodbye, the King, 75, who has paused his cancer treatment to fly 10,000 miles to honour the invite from the Australian PM, told The Sun’s long-serving photographer to “pace himself”.
The King and Queen then jetted to Samoa in the South Pacific for a State Visit, which will include the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Arthur, who is Catholic, has made no secret of his admiration for the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
“He was a visionary,” Edwards says of Charles, “and a very humble person.”
When Charles and Camilla met with Pope Francis at the Vatican, they spoke privately for 27 minutes, and then Prince Charles introduced the 15 members of a delegation accompanying him, which included Arthur.
“It’s special,” he said at the time, “for him to take that trouble. He’s a very kind and decent man.”
Arthur was born in August 1940, and educated at St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School, Stepney, London. His mother worked as a cleaner and bought him his first camera, after saving from her wages.
Arthur was made an MBE in the 2003 Queen’s New Year Honours List for his services to the newspaper industry.
Commenting on his latest award, Catholic writer and editor Joseph Kelly said Arthur “has always been held in very special regard by those of us working in the Catholic press.
“He had this wonderful habit of coming back from royal photoshoots and quietly offering some his shots to the Catholic papers – without ever asking for any fee. It was a great kindness and a great favour that was always hugely appreciated.”
Report: courtesy The Sun newspaper
Pic: Sky News reporter, Julia Bradley interviews Royal Photographer Arthur Edwards after Queen Camilla and King Charles III official departure from Sydney Airport on October 23, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. ©Shutterstock