Anwar Hussein, the British royal family’s longest-serving official photographer, known for his candid and informal portraits of Princess Diana, has passed away at the age of 85. Hussein died on September 23 after a battle with cancer.
Hussein’s innovative approach transformed the way the royal family was portrayed, favoring candid moments over the traditional formal portraits. He is survived by his wife, Caroline, and their two sons, Zak and Samir, both of whom have continued his legacy as royal photographers, capturing the next generation of British royals.
“Our family is completely heartbroken as we come to terms with Anwar’s passing,” the Hussein family stated in a message to People. “We are however grateful that he lived a full and amazing life, always on his own terms.”
Throughout his 50-year career, Hussein redefined royal photography, becoming the longest-serving photographer on the royal roster. His work has adorned official Christmas cards for Prince Charles, Princess Anne, and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
Born in Chunya, Tanganyika (now Tanzania) in 1938, Hussein initially pursued photography as a hobby. His breakthrough came in 1968 when he captured a dramatic moment during an anti-Vietnam War protest at the American embassy in Grosvenor Square, where a mounted police officer was pulled from his horse. This photograph made the front pages of newspapers the following day and set him on a path to becoming a celebrity photographer.
Transitioning to royal photography in the 1970s, Hussein sought to change the narrative around the royal family, presenting them in a more relatable light. He sought to humanize the monarchy, steering away from the staged, formal poses that characterized earlier eras, such as those of the renowned photographer Cecil Beaton.
Hussein’s most iconic images include relaxed, natural portraits of Princess Diana. Notably, he captured her striking solo photo at the Taj Mahal in 1992, during a period of turmoil in her marriage to then-Prince Charles, and the famous “revenge dress” photograph two years later.
His camera chronicled Princess Diana’s transformation from the “Shy Di” teenager to the “very brave and positive woman” she became as her “fairytale” marriage began to unravel.
In 2023, a special exhibition titled “Princess Diana: Accredited Access Exhibition,” featuring 140 of Hussein’s images of the late princess, opened in three American cities and was later shown in London, highlighting the enduring impact of his work on the royal narrative.
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