TEENAGE PHOTOGRAPHER HAS KING PICTURE FEATURED IN NATIONAL MAGAZINE
A 16-year-old photographer has made history by being the youngest to have a photograph published
of King Charles lll in a national magazine.
Farmer’s son, Lewis Langstaff-Wood from Witton-le-Wear, travelled to Balmoral with his mother,
Laura and family friend, Anita Atkinson, to watch the King officially arrive for the Royal Family’s
Summer residence.
Setting off around midnight on Sunday evening, the little band of Monarchists arrived at their
destination around 6am. The King was due to arrive later that morning but some other interested
folk had travelled the day before and were already waiting. Laura and Lewis knew them – and other
Royal watchers who were due to attend too. It is an exclusive band of Royal Watchers who turn up
at events around the country.
Holiday makers from abroad swelled the numbers too as the Monarchists chose their spot outside
of the gates at Balmoral dedicated to King George V and his Consort, Queen Mary. Nearby, visitors
were able to walk over the cast iron bridge, designed by the famous civil engineer, Isambard
Kingdom Brunel, who had been hired by Queen Victoria’s consort, Prince Albert. A WW1 war
memorial was there too, dedicated to the memories of former Royal Household staff at Balmoral
who had fallen, including many from the Regiment of the Scottish Horse.
Funded by King George V, interestingly, the stone memorial, bearing the names of the fallen also
carried a decoration of Swastikas. The Swastika is an ancient symbol once used as a symbol of good
fortune or spirituality and well-being until the 1930s when Hitler adopted it and its meaning changed
to one of the complete opposite. It now depicts evil.
As around 60 people gathered across the road to the gates to Balmoral Castle, opposite the café
and gift shop, the military had been put through their paces by the officer-in-charge. These soldiers
serve as the King’s ceremonial guard for the duration of his stay there and the regiment this year is
the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The King took over from his late mother, Queen Elizabeth ll as
Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment whose ceremonial dress includes a kilt. The Military Band with their
bagpipes playing and kilts and sporrans swaying as they marched preceded the Guard of Honour. It
was a spectacle in itself as they marched down the Balmoral Drive and out on to the road outside.
A little while later, after arriving at the gates in an official car, The King was welcomed by the Lord
Lieutenant of Aberdeenshire and then performed the ceremonial inspection of the Balaklava
Company, 5th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, at the gates of the historic estate. This
also included inspecting Colonel Cruachan lV – a Shetland pony, the mascot of the Regiment.
Colonel Cruachan lV incurred the tongue-in-cheek wrath of Queen Elizabeth in 2017 when he
mischievously ate her posy of flowers while she was inspecting the guard of honour! He was on his
best behaviour this time for The King and didn’t attempt to bite his hand as he stroked him!
After the ceremony that was accompanied by Military contingent of Pipes and Drums who played
throughout, King Charles moved towards the public who were enjoying the spectacle. All the while,
Lewis Langstaff-Wood was quietly clicking away with his camera and was delighted when The King
stopped to chat to his mother and Anita.
Laura Langstaff-Wood was not phased by this one-to-one with the Monarch who appeared very
surprised to find she had driven through the night to be there and intended to drive back later.
“I don’t believe it,” he exclaimed in his best impression of Victor Meldrew. “You are just going to
turn around drive back?”
“Yes, Sir,” replied Laura. “But not until we’ve had some fish and chips at Ballater.”
The King roared with laughter before moving on, shaking hands and speaking to some of the
others there before taking his leave with a kindly smile and wave, returning to the castle where he
will recharge his batteries during the next few weeks before returning to London to begin another
relentless Royal year.
Later that day, Lewis was able to upload some of the photographs he had taken to the
photography agency, Alamy, and one of them was immediately purchased by Hello! Magazine.
Lewis’ career ambition is to become a Royal Photographer and, it seems, he is well on his way to
succeeding. In September, he will begin his A Levels at a Sixth Form in Durham City.
Well done, Lewis!
