Kate Middleton Photographed Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, for Her New Magazine Cover—See the Sweet Photos
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Introducing Kate Middleton, royal photographer! The Duchess of Cambridge, a longtime photography enthusiast, is expanding her resume by taking on new royal duties, including snapping shots of her mother-in-law, Camilla. The Duchess of Cornwall personally requested that Kate take the photos for her latest magazine cover, which honored milestone moments in her life and in the world of publishing.
"In celebration of The Duchess of Cornwall's upcoming 75th birthday and the magazine's 125th anniversary, Her Royal Highness has guest edited a special commemorative edition of @CountryLifeMagazine, to be published on Wednesday 13th July," the caption reads on Camilla and Prince Charles' official Clarence House Instagram account.
"Commissioned by The Duchess of Cornwall as guest editor, Her Royal Highness invited The Duchess of Cambridge to capture the cover image at her home in Wiltshire, Raymill," the royal added in the post. One of the shots, a behind-the-scenes picture by Shona Williams, shows Kate in action, dressed casually in jeans and sneakers. The ultimate cover shot, which Kate took, catalogs Camilla holding a basket filled with pelargonium, posed on a bench in her garden.
Mark Hedges, the editor at Country Life, noted that Camilla formally requested that her daughter-in-law "Catherine" take her picture when asked about photographers she'd like for the shoot, to the journalist's surprise. "She immediately replied, 'Oh I'd quite like Catherine to do it,'" Hedges said. "I spent the next three or four minutes desperately racking my brains trying to think of a professional photographer called Catherine."
Once Hedges realized Camilla was referencing the Duchess of Cambridge, he knew everything would come together perfectly. "Then suddenly I grasped what she meant—one of the most amazing things that could happen," he added. This natural moment between Camilla and Kate also served as a first for the royal pair. "We understand this is the first time a formal portrait of The Duchess of Cornwall has been taken by The Duchess of Cambridge for a magazine," Hedges said, "and we are honored to have been chosen to be the first to publish this beautiful photograph."
In fact, Kate did such a good job, that she was invited back for a second gig: "The photographs are superb and we would be delighted to offer The Duchess of Cambridge another commission!" Hedges added.
