My dad put the Queen on a magic carpet . . .
MY FATHER’S job led to some surreal moments, not least the day Sophia Loren phoned and, in that glorious accent, asked: ‘Can I speak to Reginald?’
She was one of his many subjects in a 70-year career as a photographer that saw him invited to the palaces of 16 Royal Families (and two more in exile), and work with presidents and Hollywood greats.
He accompanied the Queen and her family on more than 50
state visits and many of his images are legendary
In 1969, he photographed the Royal Family in the grounds of Windsor Castle and, as the grass was wet, he spread out a Persian rug. The Queen told Princes Andrew and Edward to pretend it was a magic carpet that could fly away.
The Royal Navy gave my father his start. Called up in 1943, he had to choose between training in Morse code or as a photographer. He thought post-war job options might be limited with Morse code! He served on HMS Victorious in the Pacific until he was demobbed. Then he joined a small Fleet Street agency.
Working on the 1948 film Brighton Rock, he became friendly with actor Richard Attenborough. He made a more important connection there, too — meeting my mother, Audrey, a school teacher, on the beach.
He proposed on their third date and they celebrated 70 years of marriage this year.
My father won a string of awards and one of his portraits of the Queen hangs in the National Gallery. In 2008, he received an MBE for services to photography and charity.
With him has passed an entire era, but his pictures will live on — he published ten books — as will his memory.
A wonderful grandfather to my three sons, and greatgrandad to two great-granddaughters, we will always love you, Dad xx.
REGINALD DAVIS, born March 5, 1925, died July 14, 2018, aged 93.