Prince Andrew's Photography Book Drew Scathing Comparisons to Brooklyn Beckham's Effort
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York, faced significant ridicule for a photography project years before his association with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein brought disgrace upon him. The late Queen Elizabeth II's son was once described as being "very serious about his photography", with world-renowned photographer Gene Nocon serving as his technical assistant to help develop his "instinctive aesthetic eye".
A Royal Passion Project Met With Harsh Criticism
In 1995, Andrew released a book titled Photographs: Andrew, Prince Duke of York, which he described as "a small slice of autobiography recording memories and impressions through my eyes and the lens of a camera". He emphasised that it was a book by him as a "tyro-photographer" rather than as a member of the Royal Family. The collection featured black-and-white images of royal relatives, including a young Prince Harry, and actress Finola Hughes, offering a rare glimpse into royal life.
Despite his status as a popular royal and the Queen's favourite son, the book was widely panned. The Los Angeles Times branded it "sad and pathetic", while photography experts delivered brutal assessments. Tim Hughes, associate editor of the British Journal of Photography, criticised the technical quality, stating the printers had "the unenviable task of trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear". Professor John Hedgecoe of the London School of Art remarked that Harry's face appeared "like a mask" with "black slits" for eyes.
Andrew's Own Admissions and the Beckham Parallel
Even Andrew struggled to defend his work, admitting in an interview that the images "weren't particularly brilliant" and joking that he might have taken up photography full-time despite the "conflict between myself as a photographer and myself as a member of The Royal Family". He speculated, "Who knows? Maybe, in 20 years' time?" but ultimately did not pursue it professionally.
This episode drew direct comparisons to Brooklyn Beckham's 2017 photography book, What I See, which was similarly ridiculed. Beckham's work, featuring poorly received images like an elephant he called "hard to photograph", was slammed for "terrible photographs and even worse captions", though publisher Random House defended it as being for his teenage fans. Neither Andrew nor Beckham has released another photo book since.
The criticism of Andrew's artistic endeavour preceded the far more serious scandal that led to him being stripped of royal titles and removed from his home, Royal Lodge, due to his links with Jeffrey Epstein, allegations he denies. This forgotten chapter highlights how his public image was already under scrutiny long before the Epstein affair.
