Royal photographer Tim Rooke has chosen some of his favourite images of King Charles from over the years (Picture: Tim Rooke, Shutterstock)

A Royal photographer has chosen his favourite images of King Charles III from more than 30 years of covering the British monarchy.  

Tim Rooke, who works for Shutterstock Editorial, shared the choice images of His Majesty as he prepares to get behind the lens for the coronation.

Tim will be capturing the balcony appearance and other key moments as King Charles and Queen Camilla are crowned at Westminster Abbey on Saturday.  

While the ceremony will carry the weight of history, he has been able to capture Charles’s more playful and relaxed side at public appearances over the years.

They include a picture he took of the then Prince of Wales and the late Queen with matching smiles at the Platinum Jubilee last year.  

Another more relaxed setting was at the Braemar Highland Gathering, an annual event in Scotland with historic royal ties. Tim recalled how the Prince and the Queen were ‘just enjoying each other’s company in a country they both hold so fondly’ during their appearance in September 2018. 

Looking towards the ceremony on May 6, he said: ‘I’m expecting two big photo moments of the King and Queen.

‘The first will be captured from what’s known as the Crimea Statue, where you get the most amazing view of Westminster Abbey, just opposite.  

The then Prince of Wales and the late Queen Elizabeth II enjoy the action at the Braemar Highland Gathering in Scotland (Picture: Tim Rooke, Shutterstock)

The future king and Queen Elizabeth II show a familial likeness at the Platinum Jubilee in 2022 (Picture: Tim Rooke, Shutterstock)

‘This will be the first moment we get to see the King and Queen in their grandeur outside of the ceremony. The other will be the balcony shot.

‘I’m looking forward to seeing the images of the King and Queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace as they wave at the crowds.  

‘It’s set to be such an interesting day in modern British history.’ 

Tim, 58, became royal photographer for Shutterstock in 1990, capturing family history across the generations and licensing his work to the world’s media. He has also photographed other royal families across the globe. 

The Londoner told Metro.co.uk: ‘I’m lucky enough to say that I’ve been a royal photographer for over 30 years now.  

‘It’s easy to say that this is one of the best jobs in the world as it allows me to explore my two real passions in life.

‘I love to take photos, of course, and my other love is travelling.  

The Prince tries a mate tea drink in Uruguay on a tour of South America in 1999 (Picture: Tim Rooke, Shutterstock)

‘Being a royal photographer at Shutterstock has given me access to some unbelievable locations around the world all while capturing some remarkable royal moments.

‘I’ve had the best access to many of the most important events in King Charles’s life and l look forward to capturing him at his coronation. I’ve especially loved photographing his playful side, such as when I caught him on camera straight after Geri Halliwell from the Spice Girls left a big pink lipstick stain on his cheek.’ 

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, amid the splendour of the United Arab Emirates in November 2016 (Picture: Tim Rooke, Shutterstock)

Their Royal Highnesses get behind the wheel at a British classic car event in Havana on a visit to Cuba in March 2019 (Picture: Tim Rooke, Shutterstock)

Another of Tim’s favourite photos captures the likeness between the heir to the throne and Queen Elizabeth II at the Platinum Jubilee. 

‘It really shows the familial resemblance between the late Queen and King Charles,’ he said. ‘Their smiles and expressions are so similar. It also reminds you that the Royal Family is, at the end of the day, just a family.

‘Capturing those moments when that family resemblance is so clear is fun as I know it’s something the public always likes to analyse — as we do with our own family photos.’ 

In another memorable image, the King’s more serious side is captured as he speaks at the 94th Field of Remembrance in Westminster Abbey.

King Charles III waves to the crowd as he goes about his first Remembrance duties in November 2022 (Picture: Tim Rooke, Shutterstock)

The engagement was the first time His Majesty has led Remembrance events following his accession to the throne.  

‘The British Royal Family is different to photograph compared to other European royal families,’ Tim said.

‘They don’t want to look silly but they’re happy to try different things and that’s what’s so great to capture on camera.

‘King Charles says he doesn’t pose for the camera, well, of course, he does a bit, but it’s often quite natural.

‘Take this more serious image as an example: I love to capture the King in a natural setting. That’s what makes this such a humanising image for me.’ 

King Charles and Queen Camilla alongside German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Buedenbender (Picture: Tim Rooke, Shutterstock)

Tim was privileged to be given inside access to the King’s entourage on the royal flight for the monarch’s three-day trip to Germany in March 2023. 

He said: ‘There were 800 accredited media there to cover the event, but I was fortunate to travel on the royal flight with the King for Shutterstock.

‘This is just one of the many images I was able to capture on the trip. The visit did make me reflect on how far royal photography has come.  

‘Twenty-seven years ago, I created a story by being a royal photographer on a tour to Canada. On that tour, I was the only media professional there to photograph the visit, something that would be a rarity now.’ 

Tim Rooke has taken lasting images as British royals make appearances around the UK and the world (Picture: Tim Rooke, Shutterstock)

Some of the moments captured by the photographer showing the future king alongside Queen Elizabeth II have taken on added poignancy following Her Majesty’s death on September 8 last year.

They include an image he took in 2003 at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor. 

Charles was on the winning team in a match and collected the trophy from his mother, who was guest of honour at the event.

Tim Rooke chose an image of mother and son at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor as a standout moment (Picture: Tim Rooke, Shutterstock)

‘I’ve highlighted this image as it evokes memories for me of a typical mother-and-son relationship,’ Tim said.

‘A mother on the sideline watching her son playing on a muddy sports field. ‘There are no other distractions — it’s just a lovely authentic moment between the two. Despite the setting, the Queen still looks immaculate — which does make for a fun contrast.’ 

Another less guarded moment was at the historic Reddendo Parade at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. 

The Prince of Wales and Queen Elizabeth share a moment at the Reddendo Parade in Scotland (Picture: Tim Rooke, Shutterstock)

The engagement on June 30 last year at the monarch’s official residence in Edinburgh would be the last official occasion where the photographer took pictures of Queen Elizabeth II. 

‘I didn’t know at the time of taking this photo that this could become such a memorable moment for me,’ Tim said.

‘It feels particularly poignant that the last time I captured her on camera she was standing alongside our future King.

‘And no doubt she was smiling.’ 

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Tim Rooke is preparing to take more defining images of King Charles and Queen Camilla at the coronation.