Royal photographer Samir Hussein just revealed what it’s really like working with the royal family.
Hussein—who has captured several memorable moments, including Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s iconic rain photo—appeared on a recent episode of the Royally Obsessed podcast, where he chatted with hosts Rachel Bowie and Roberta Fiorito about his favorite royals to photograph.
“I guess William and Kate [Middleton] would be particular favorites because I photograph them the most, and I’ve been photographing them since their engagement,” he said. “So, I think they’re probably the most special.”
Hussein admitted that Prince Charles’s wife, Camilla Parker Bowles, is a top contender. “[Camilla] just makes it really easy because she always tries to give you a good picture. She just really consciously makes a big effort to turn to the cameras and to smile,” he explained. “Charles is the same, so if you’re on tour or something with them, they’re just very keen—they never hold back to getting a good picture, even if it means something silly or something like that.”
Hussein went on to say that Middleton and Meghan Markle make his job “very easy,” adding, “Meghan and Kate are just both very photogenic. It’s really, really hard to take a bad picture of them. Some people just have this natural ability to look great in front of the camera.”
However, no one commands a room quite like Queen Elizabeth. “The queen is just amazing wherever you go,” Hussein continued. “People just have so much respect for her. She just has this air of authority about her. She doesn’t put a step wrong. She knows when to smile at the right time. She knows when to do everything at the right time. She’s just a unique, historical character.”
As the longest-standing monarch, it’s no wonder she’s a pro.