Why Meghan Markle’s behavior is ‘unusual’ compared to royal family: photographer
Meghan Markle was a surprise addition to the United Kingdom’s royal family when she married Prince Harry in May 2018.
Photographer Samir Hussein believes that the former actress, 42, was more palpable as opposed to other members of the Firm.
Hussein has often shot snaps of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, most famously the rain-drenched photo of the couple happily walking arm-in-arm under an umbrella at the Endeavour Awards in 2020.
The photo was from one of their last royal engagements before they officially stepped down as senior members of the Firm later that same year.
The artist described taking that photo of Markle and Harry, 39, as being astonishingly different than his usual experiences of snapping the royals.
“It was very noticeable when Meghan came on the scene just how tactile she was, like holding the Duke’s hand and being arm-in-arm, so that was quite unusual,” Hussein told The Telegraph recently.
The photo will be on display in a new exhibition titled “Princess Diana: Accredited Access” at Dockside Vaults in London beginning May 25.
The event will showcase both Hussein and his father Anwar’s photographs that chronicled the monarchy over the decades.
When the Invictus Games founder and the “Suits” alum saw the smiling image of themselves, they were over the moon.
“[When I] spoke to some of their team, they were really happy about it and talking about it,” Hussein dished to Us Weekly in April 2020.
“I’ve never had a reaction to a picture like that one,” Hussein said. “In terms of the reaction I’ve had from people, that’s got to be the most iconic from that point of view.”
Last October, Hussein emerged victorious and won the Royal Photographer of the Year at the Picture Editor Guild Awards.
His iconic shot of an annoyed Prince Louis, 5, screaming and holding his hands over his ears while the late Queen Elizabeth looked on during Trooping the Colour at the Platinum Jubilee in June 2022 scored him the honor.
Hussein was also on hand to take pictures at King Charles’ coronation in May 2023.
“The coronation was such a historical and amazing event to document despite standing out in the rain for eight hours,” he recalled to People last year.
He added that his favorite photo of the ceremony was of Prince George, 10, standing behind Charles, 75, on the Buckingham Palace balcony after he was crowned.
“It was such a memorable year for the royals and a year [unlike] any other in my career with the Jubilee and death of the queen,” he recalled.
The Platinum Jubilee was one of the last events that Queen Elizabeth attended before her death in September 2022 at the age of 96.
