Snowdon's sublime royal family album: No ordinary snaps from the photographer who lived a life as glamorous as any he captured through his lens
- Antony Armstrong-Jones became a member of the Royal Family in 1960 when he married Princess Margaret
- Once behind palace walls, Snowdon began to capture his new family on film
- Lord Snowdon, who died on Friday aged 86, was a dazzling addition to Sixties London
It is an image that manages to be a portrait of both grandeur and whimsy: the Prince and Princess of Wales with their sons in the gardens of their country home Highgrove.
This was Lord Snowdon at his finest, improvising on the older, stuffier traditions of Royal photography to create a contemporary image that would become one of the best known pictures of the family.
Although it purports to show harmony, it was taken in 1991 just a year before the warring Waleses separated, something Snowdon must have guessed as he created the elaborate tableau.
![The Prince and Princess of Wales with their sons in the gardens of their country home Highgrove. This was Lord Snowdon at his finest, improvising on the older, stuffier traditions of Royal photography to create a contemporary image that would become one of the best known pictures of the family](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/15/00/3C22CF2700000578-4120958-image-a-42_1484439842232.jpg)
The Prince and Princess of Wales with their sons in the gardens of their country home Highgrove. This was Lord Snowdon at his finest, improvising on the older, stuffier traditions of Royal photography to create a contemporary image that would become one of the best known pictures of the family
![Loving: Princess Diana holds two-year-old William in a 1984 portrait by Snowdon](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/15/00/3C22CF0C00000578-4120958-image-a-43_1484439855265.jpg)
Loving: Princess Diana holds two-year-old William in a 1984 portrait by Snowdon
![Once behind palace walls, Snowdon began to capture his new family on film, and his pictures were greedily enjoyed around the world. He is pictured above in 1958](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/15/00/3C22CF3700000578-4120958-image-m-34_1484439752884.jpg)
Once behind palace walls, Snowdon began to capture his new family on film, and his pictures were greedily enjoyed around the world. He is pictured above in 1958
The then Antony Armstrong-Jones became a member of the Royal Family in 1960 when he married Princess Margaret.
Together they brought a flinty glamour to London life, their romance transcending the social boundaries of the day.
Once behind palace walls, Snowdon began to capture his new family on film, and his pictures were greedily enjoyed around the world.
He was one of the finest photographers of his generation and in a unique position to turn those skills on the family everyone wanted to see.
He brought artistry to his work but also an unmatched authenticity, taking iconic portraits of the Royals at work and offbeat, relaxed shots of them at play.
Snowdon, who died on Friday aged 86, was a dazzling addition to Sixties London: sexy, sociable, witty and charming.
He loved parties and gossip, rode a motorbike and seduced many of his early subjects.
Yet he was a dedicated campaigner for the disabled, having suffered polio in his teens, and a craftsman.
But it will be as a photographer that he will be remembered even if he lived a life as glamorous as any he captured through his lens.
![Young love: The uncomplicated national joy which greeted the engagement of Charles and Diana in February 1981 is reflected here in Snowdon’s gloriously happy portrait](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/15/00/3C22CE8700000578-4120958-image-a-44_1484439866805.jpg)
Young love: The uncomplicated national joy which greeted the engagement of Charles and Diana in February 1981 is reflected here in Snowdon’s gloriously happy portrait
![Baby joy: Not just a Royal wife, but now the mother of a Prince, Diana’s adoration of the newborn Prince William is unmistakable in this picture which was taken in July 1982](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/15/00/3C22CEBE00000578-4120958-image-a-38_1484439810056.jpg)
Baby joy: Not just a Royal wife, but now the mother of a Prince, Diana’s adoration of the newborn Prince William is unmistakable in this picture which was taken in July 1982
![The new Diana: A candid shot of the Princess of Wales captured at Highgrove in 1991. It’s the year before her separation, but she looks bold, untroubled – and optimistic](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/15/00/3C22CF3300000578-4120958-image-a-45_1484439882324.jpg)
The new Diana: A candid shot of the Princess of Wales captured at Highgrove in 1991. It’s the year before her separation, but she looks bold, untroubled – and optimistic
![I’ll look after you: William, aged two, proudly cradles his new brother, three-week-old Harry, in a tender moment at Kensington Palace in 1984](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/15/00/3C22CEA300000578-4120958-image-a-48_1484439925770.jpg)
I’ll look after you: William, aged two, proudly cradles his new brother, three-week-old Harry, in a tender moment at Kensington Palace in 1984
![Raising a royal laugh: William entertains the family at his brother’s 1984 christening. From left: the Queen Mother, the Queen, Princess Diana with Harry and Prince Charles. Standing are Prince Andrew, Prince Philip and Earl Spencer](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/15/00/3C22CEB300000578-4120958-Raising_a_royal_laugh_William_entertains_the_family_at_his_broth-m-86_1484441297978.jpg)
Raising a royal laugh: William entertains the family at his brother’s 1984 christening. From left: the Queen Mother, the Queen, Princess Diana with Harry and Prince Charles. Standing are Prince Andrew, Prince Philip and Earl Spencer
![Woodland tales: This relaxed family portrait in the grounds of Buckingham Palace in 1957 has the Queen and Princess Anne, who are sharing a book, glancing towards a poised Prince Philip, while a young Prince Charles plays with the family corgis](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/15/00/3C2324B800000578-4120958-image-a-87_1484441405742.jpg)
Woodland tales: This relaxed family portrait in the grounds of Buckingham Palace in 1957 has the Queen and Princess Anne, who are sharing a book, glancing towards a poised Prince Philip, while a young Prince Charles plays with the family corgis
![Mother's pride: The Queen and Princess Anne in 1957 on her seventh birthday in the grounds of Buckingham Palace](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/15/00/3C22CE8F00000578-4120958-image-a-54_1484440071765.jpg)
Mother's pride: The Queen and Princess Anne in 1957 on her seventh birthday in the grounds of Buckingham Palace
![Big world: Princess Anne and Prince Charles, captured by Snowdon in an artful pose alongside a giant globe, on the Prince’s eighth birthday in 1956](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/15/00/3C22CF2F00000578-4120958-image-a-58_1484440132266.jpg)
Big world: Princess Anne and Prince Charles, captured by Snowdon in an artful pose alongside a giant globe, on the Prince’s eighth birthday in 1956
![Down by the river: Princess Anne sits with her first husband Captain Mark Phillips, and their son Peter, in this elegantly framed pose in the grounds of Gatcombe Park in 1978](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/15/00/3C2329BE00000578-4120958-image-a-85_1484440631933.jpg)
Down by the river: Princess Anne sits with her first husband Captain Mark Phillips, and their son Peter, in this elegantly framed pose in the grounds of Gatcombe Park in 1978
![Picture of innocence: Taken in late 1980, shortly before her engagement and wedding the following year, this portrait of Lady Diana Spencer, shot for Vogue magazine, captures her youth and vitality, as well as the startling blue eyes that melted Prince Charles’s heart… and the nation’s](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/15/00/3C22CEDF00000578-4120958-image-a-59_1484440360194.jpg)
Picture of innocence: Taken in late 1980, shortly before her engagement and wedding the following year, this portrait of Lady Diana Spencer, shot for Vogue magazine, captures her youth and vitality, as well as the startling blue eyes that melted Prince Charles’s heart… and the nation’s
![Glamorous and enigmatic: Snowdon’s then-wife, Princess Margaret, wearing a very on-trend gown on the island of Mustique in July 1969. The couple had a home on the island and were frequent visitors](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/15/00/3C22CF1900000578-4120958-image-a-63_1484440382147.jpg)
Glamorous and enigmatic: Snowdon’s then-wife, Princess Margaret, wearing a very on-trend gown on the island of Mustique in July 1969. The couple had a home on the island and were frequent visitors
![Cherished moment: Margaret with her first child David in 1961, the year after her marriage to Snowdon](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/15/00/3C22CEED00000578-4120958-image-a-66_1484440404267.jpg)
Cherished moment: Margaret with her first child David in 1961, the year after her marriage to Snowdon
![Happy memories: A delightfully informal shot of Snowdon’s giggling children Lady Sarah and Viscount Linley, taken in 1970](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/15/00/3C22CF0200000578-4120958-image-a-70_1484440439224.jpg)
Happy memories: A delightfully informal shot of Snowdon’s giggling children Lady Sarah and Viscount Linley, taken in 1970
![Coming of age: Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones in a striking portrait by her father to mark her 21st birthday](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/15/00/3C22CF1F00000578-4120958-image-a-74_1484440474034.jpg)
Coming of age: Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones in a striking portrait by her father to mark her 21st birthday
![Here, Snowdon captures the essence of the Queen Mother, smiling in a jaunty country hat in 1997](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/15/00/3C22CE9700000578-4120958-image-a-78_1484440526584.jpg)
Here, Snowdon captures the essence of the Queen Mother, smiling in a jaunty country hat in 1997
![Happy and glorious: This is one of the Queen’s favourite shots of her taken by him in 2010](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/15/01/3C232D0B00000578-4120958-image-a-88_1484442675417.jpg)
Happy and glorious: This is one of the Queen’s favourite shots of her taken by him in 2010
![Snowdon’s working relationship with the Royals endured long after his marriage to Princess Margaret ended. This regal portrait of her was taken in 1984, six years after they divorced](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/15/00/3C22CE9B00000578-4120958-image-a-81_1484440588125.jpg)
Snowdon’s working relationship with the Royals endured long after his marriage to Princess Margaret ended. This regal portrait of her was taken in 1984, six years after they divorced
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