The story behind the royal wedding photo called ‘Diana’s View’

Prince Harry Marries Ms. Meghan Markle - Procession
Getty Images | Jack Taylor

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. And, when it came to the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, every photo seems to capture its own fairy tale moment.

A quick photo search shows thousands of images taken over the course of the May 19 festivities, from arrivals to the ceremony itself and even the couple departing for their evening reception.

However, there was one image that has captured the attention and imaginations of the world.

It’s a simple, overhead shot of the newlyweds as they rode through the streets of London in a horse-drawn carriage.

Getty

What about this photo makes it so special, though? Some would say you can’t even see the couple’s faces, so it can’t be that great.

But it’s the unique vantage point of capturing the pair from above that has caused the flurry of interest by professional photographers and casual fans alike.

First, if you look at the photo, you may be able to notice how their bodies create the shape of a heart. Aww, could it get more romantic than that?

Also, some people are referring to it as the “Diana’s View” photograph, thinking of it as a subtle nod to Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, who tragically died in 1997.

Some viewers saw the picture and imagined that this might be the view Diana would have of her son’s special day.

princess diana photo
Getty Images | Carl Court

But, how did the photographer capture this once-in-a-lifetime shot?

Yui Mok, a photographer for the Press Association who took the iconic picture, said it wasn’t an easy get.

“The carriage took less than a second to pass underneath me,” Mok told Town and Country magazine. “And in that time I had managed to shoot five frames, one of which would end up as one of the most memorable photos of the whole wedding. Of course, had the carriage driven a foot or so either side of my viewpoint, there wouldn’t have been a picture.”

Check out more of Mok’s photos leading up to the now-famous image below.

It’s all about being in the right place at the right time and having a flash of inspiration!

Congratulations to Mok on his memorable photo and to the happy couple on the start of their life together!

RELATED: This artist painted Princess Diana with both of her daughters-in-law.

Royal Wedding Photographer Shares Secret To Get Kids To Smile

Getting children — even royal children — to sit or stand still for a picture can be a nightmare. Luckily, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding photographer Alexi Lubomirski shared his fool-proof photography trick.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjCr8SuF5ls/?hl=en&taken-by=alexilubomirski

So, how did he get all those adorable pint-size royals to smile? Candy.

Sweet Smile

That’s right, the secret to smiles, royal or not, is as simple as a few sweet treats.

“[The children] were being bribed with one Smartie here, one Smartie there,” Lubomirski told Reuters. “So as soon as the kids came on to the set, I immediately just shouted out, ‘Who likes Smarties?’ and then everybody, hands up, smiles; even some adults put their hands up, so that was our magic word of the day.”

In the U.K., Smarties are a hard-shelled chocolate candy similar to M&Ms. You probably already have them in your pantry, so you’re all set for a room full of smiles. Lubomirski was tight on time, so he had to go with a tried-and-true tactic to get all the family portraits.

Family Fun

That’s not all. Lubomirski shared that the excitement and genuine joy of the big day also helped. Like any wedding, the cheery gathering of family and friends meant natural smiles all around.

“The atmosphere in the room was obviously very joyful; there were a lot of smiles,” he told Reuters. “Some parents were trying to wrangle their children, other uncles and aunts were talking to their nephews and nieces. It was a family, that was essentially what it is.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjCr0EJF13e/?hl=en&taken-by=alexilubomirski

There you have it. For your next family photographs, remember the magic word isn’t cheese, just say candy and have a big bag of M&Ms on hand!

Here are some of Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s cutest moments on the day of the wedding:

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About the Author
Marie Rossiter
Marie is a freelance writer and content creator with more than 20 years of experience in journalism. She lives in southwest Ohio with her husband and is almost a full-fledged empty nest mom of two daughters. She loves music, reading, word games, and Walt Disney World.

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