A life in STAGES

OUR ROYAL SNAPPER Our photographer, John Swannell, reveals his links to the Queen

In 2012, the Queen chose John Swannell as her Diamond Jubilee photographer. “I found a painting of her father and photographed her in the mirror, with the picture in shot. I thought she’d be so pleased with that.” Yet the official photo, also by John, shows the Queen alone. “I was really disappointed.” Months later, John spoke to a woman looking after the Queen’s press. “She said the Queen had [my other photo] in her bedroom. She loved that one.” The Queen is a “dead patient” sitter, says John, but thinks she picks him for speed. “If you drag it out, the sitter’s eyes glaze over. I am really quite quick.” 1946

BORN IN INDIA TO AN ARMY MAJOR DAD AND A NATURE-LOVING MOTHER (ABOVE WITH JOANNA AND HER ELDER SISTER) 1960s

BECOMES A MODEL AFTER A SPELL AT LUCIE CLAYTON CHARM ACADEMY 1967

SON JAMIE IS BORN AFTER A RELATIONSHIP WITH MICHAEL CLAYDON 1969

GETS HER FIRST ACTING ROLE 1976-77

MAKES HER NAME AS PURDEY IN TV SERIES The New Avengers 1986

MARRIES CONDUCTOR AND COMPOSER STEPHEN BARLOW 1992-96

CREATES PATSY STONE IN COMEDY Absolutely Fabulous 1995

MADE AN OBE

2008

BECOMES THE FACE OF THE GURKHA JUSTICE CAMPAIGN

TO GIVE ALL NEPALESE GURKHAS THE RIGHT TO SETTLE IN BRITAIN

2011

NOMINATED FOR A TONY FOR HER ROLE IN La Bête ON BROADWAY 2013

STARS ALONGSIDE LEONARDO DICAPRIO IN The Wolf of Wall Street 2021

PUBLISHES HER BOOK

A Queen for All Seasons 2021-present

STARS IN Finding Alice, A BLACK COMEDY ON ITV 2022

MADE A DAME COMMANDER ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. NOW FILMING A DOCUMENTARY FOR ITV FOLLOWING THE SPICE ROUTE. CHAMPIONS ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES (LEFT). CELEBRATES THE JUBILEE