Isabel II prohibited being photographed on the arm of her son Andrés

On March 29, the British sovereign arrived at Westminster Abbey with her son Prince Andrew to attend a religious service in honor of her late husband Felipe, and her entrance caused a stir for two reasons.

Firstly, the 95-year-old sovereign made it clear that she can still walk with the help of a cane despite the health problems she has suffered in recent months, and secondly, the choice of the Duke of York as a companion was interpreted as the ‘redemption’ of the one who has always been rumored to be his favorite son.

Andrés’ attendance at the mass in memory of his father marked his return to public life after settling the sexual abuse lawsuit filed against him by Virginia Giuffre through an out-of-court settlement. However, it seems that her mother did not want her gesture of support to be so ‘public’, since that day from the palace they gave precise instructions so that the queen should not be photographed while she walked towards her seat with her son.

Richard Pohle, the only accredited photographer for the event, has now confessed that he broke the orders he had received as soon as he saw the monarch make her appearance on the arm of Prince Andrew.

“That changed everything,” Richard justified himself in statements to The Times. “‘I have to photograph this, of course,’ I told myself. The arrival of the queen had become the main news event. I saw them hesitate, but they repeated that the order not to take photos ‘came from above’ and that ‘ It wasn’t up to them.'”

In a moment of lucidity, knowing that the British media would never forgive him if he did not immortalize this scene, Richard left his stool as the choir had begun to sing, moving quickly down the aisle between the rows of seats opposite him. where Elizabeth would pass and moved into position. It was not an easy task because, in the public appearances of the royal family, abandoning the position that has been assigned to each person in advance is “a capital sin”.

“I brushed past the press officer and I could feel a hand trying to stop me, but I hurried past and ducked in the center of the aisle,” he said. “Then I went back to my starting position walking past the same scowling-looking press officer and whispered an apology.”