Royal family as you’ve never seen them before as snaps taken by the public released for first time in new book
THE royal family is one of the most photographed in the world - but all we normally see are glossy and professional shots.
But this new book shows Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton and Princess Diana in some off-guard moments in the photos all taken by members of the public.
Harry shares a traditional Maori greeting, while Princess Diana beams at someone out of sight and Princess Charlotte is pushed by her mother, The Duchess of Cambridge, as they walk to Sandringham.
Pictures of the Royal Family, taken not by professional photographers, but by members of the public, form the topic of a new book.
The quirky photos have been released by Photobox who, ahead of the Royal wedding on May 19, issued a call for action.
They pleaded with Britain's public to raid their attics and smartphones and submit their best images of the Royal family, taken over the years as a 'people's gift' for Meghan and Harry.
The results are astonishing.
In one stunning picture of Prince Harry, taken in New Zealand, he performs a Maori greeting.
Photographer Julia Maxwell recalled: "While we were living in New Zealand Harry visited Wanganui, the small town we were living in. "
She added: He was welcomed warmly by the Maori and paddled up our fabulous Wanganui river in a traditional Maori waka.
"The town loved the fact that he visited such a small town instead of focusing on the large city centres."
Sarah Hillyar, who photographed Princess Diana in 1991 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, added: "She still had a big smile on her face and looked as fresh as a daisy!"
Princess Charlotte, pushed by her mum, was captured by Susanne Warner, while the Queen Mother, at Benjamin Britten's House during the Aldeburgh Festival in Suffolk in 1975 was shot by Victor Parker.
The Queen Mum was also snapped by Yvonne Tiffany at the Sandringham Flower Show in July 1991. "Before she arrived our son Adam played cricket with the flowers [he was meant to give her]," Yvonne recalled.
"My mother said you can't give her those, but when he presented them to the Queen Mother she said, 'What lovely flowers.'
Other featured Royals include Princess Anne, pictured at a Save the Children gala in 1991, and Sarah Ferguson, outside Waterstone's in Leeds in 2003.
Recalling this picture, photographer Paul Ratcliffe said: "She'd had a police escort and wanted a photo with motorbikes but no official photographer was there, she asked me to take the photos."
The project is supported by former BBC Royal correspondent, Jennie Bond.
She said: "Prince Harry’s choice of bride – and the way she has been welcomed into the Royal Family graphically illustrates how far the monarchy has come since 1936 when Edward VIII was forced to choose between his love for another American divorcee, Wallis Simpson, and the throne.
"Evidence of this evolution can be clearly seen across the pages of this brilliant new book.
"The great charm is that the photos taken by the crowds over many decades capture all too rare moments when members of the Royal Family look genuinely relaxed and unguarded."
The Crown from the Crowd was produced and published by Photobox to commemorate the royal wedding. The book is available at and costs £25. All profits from the book will be donated to Help for Heroes.
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