Prince Andrew Embarrassment

I spent the day on order for The Sun, photographing Prince Andrew as he visited the Cambridge Business Park.

For those readers who may not be up to date with the regular embarrassments caused by almost every member of the Royal Family apart from the Queen, this was Prince Andrew's first public engagement since his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, told journalists acting as businessmen that she can arrange access to her ex-husband for a substantial fee.

For Prince Andrew it was business as usual, but the desire was for pictures portraying him as less than happy with this most recent scandal. The shot of Prince Andrew with his head in his hands was published in The Sun.

The above picture was published in The Times.

The Queen- Looking Casual

It was the final day of the Royal Windsor Horse Show today, so having organised accreditation I drove up to Windsor, hopeful to come back with a new set of pictures of the Queen. Typically at the show, the Queen is a little more relaxed than when on formal engagements- often dressing casually and driving down to the show herself, as it's basically in her back garden.

I arrived just in time to see a small group of photographers excitedly watching a Range Rover that had just pulled up. As I walked towards it a man next to me, dressed casually in chords, turned round and said in a very serious tone "don't go in front of me, OK?" Her Majesty's security were on guard. The Queen spent around half an hour watching the events of the show, and from a safe distance I was able to snap away to my heart's content.

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, involved in some time-keeping for the Carriages event.

The Queen Swan Upping

Swan Upping is the annual ceremonial activity in which swans on the River Thames are rounded up, caught, marked and then released. This was the first occasion on which a reigning monarch had viewed the events- the Queen following the ceremony in a steam boat.

Royal Ascot 2009

I spent a few hours at the most famous race meeting in the world today, Royal Ascot- where hats, horses, drinking, betting and celebrity hob-nobing become one.

Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden.

Designer Isabella Kristensen meets the photographers.

The Royal Family make their way into the Royal Enclosure.

Princess Beatrice.

A race-goer studies the odds.

Royal Ascot 2008

A few shots from the last two days of Royal Ascot 2008.

It was my first time photographing the prestigious race event in Berkshire this year, and I managed to get a few pictures published in the national press- despite the overwhelming amount of other photographers, with seemingly every newspaper, specialist magazine and press agency represented.

The Queen and the rest of the Royal Family arrive by horse-drawn carriage at a set time each afternoon. Going to Ascot and knowing that there would be a decent opportunity to photograph the Queen makes the experience a really worthwhile one.

Photographs published in The Daily Star.

More pictures from Royal Ascot available on my website www.blakeezracole.com