Today in the Guardian: The first official photos of Prince George have been released. Lying peacefully in the arms of the Duchess of Cambridge, the newborn, who is third in line to the throne, seems to be sleeping. The Duke of Cambridge looks on proudly with a protective arm around Kate. The pictures were taken by Kate’s father, Michael Middleton, in the garden of the family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, earlier this month. In one of the photos, the royal couple are joined by their black cocker spaniel Lupo, and Tilly, a golden retriever belonging to the Middleton family.

Picture Michael Middleton

Picture Michael Middleton

So what do we think ? Good Pix ?

They certainly have been discussed widely today. Some photographers have been quite disparaging about the efforts of Kate’s dad Michael Middleton but I’m going to be a little more charitable.
They’re quite nice snaps of his kids.
They look relaxed and happy.
Good location – not distracting and pleasant enough
Even the dogs look happy.
So , as far as all that goes it’s a successful shoot.
No. it’s not a pro shoot and it’s probably unfair to compare it to one.
Michael Middleton is an event organiser.

What he does have is a camera and ACCESS.

Nowadays every Tom, Dick, Harry and Michael has a camera that can produce professional quality results.

The question I want to ask is whether the Royals should have used a professional photographer to capture these important first “official” pictures of the Royal baby ?

Did they actually consider using a professional ?

I’m sure the picture agencies have been offering their expert services ever since the birth.
They would have had some great photographers to choose from.

Does the Duke still have a natural antipathy to photographers – believing still that they were partially responsible for the death of his mother ?
Does he just consider them ghastly oiks ?

Or is it all more innocent than that ?
Michael turns up one day with his camera.
Proud grandparent.
Takes snaps of the family in the garden.
Kids love them and say “why go to all the bother of an official shoot – we’ve got a nice pic here”?

Well if that’s the way it happened, who can blame them ?

Well, me for one !
They are the British Royal Family, not Bill and Katie from down the road, and as such they have a far wider responsibility to the country.
They know that every facet of their lives is examined in detail, remarked upon, studied and copied by many.
I consider the use of the wife’s dad to do the First Official Royal Baby Pictures to be a mistake.
A snub to pro photographers and a bad example to the public.

Photographers, to the barricades men !

Storm the Palace !