[Deathwatch] Patrick Lichfield, fasion/royal photographer, 66

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

Lichfield dies aged 66 Friday November 11, 01:05 PM	

 
LONDON (Reuters) - Patrick Lichfield, whose dashing looks, royal
pedigree and artistic talent made him one of the fashion world's
best-known photographers, died in hospital on Friday after suffering a
stroke. He was 66.

Lichfield, first cousin once removed to the Queen, was best known for
his informally posed 1981 wedding portraits of Prince Charles and
Princess Diana.

A statement released by his studio said he died peacefully in the early
hours of Friday. Buckingham Palace said the Queen was deeply saddened
by the news.
Born Thomas Patrick Anson in April 1939, the man who became the fifth
Earl of Lichfield was considered one of Britain's premier photographers
after a 44-year career behind the lens.

His work varied from covering Royal family events to documenting
"swinging-60s" London. He also photographed the wedding of Mick and
Bianca Jagger.

For an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in 2003, Lichfield
said he took enormous pleasure in looking back over his work.

"I am fortunate that my career has brought me into contact with many
interesting and beautiful people," he said. "My work is a permanent
record of that."

Lichfield, who had a holiday home on the exclusive Caribbean island of
Mustique and lived in Shugborough Hall in Staffordshire, was dubbed the
David Bailey of the upper classes.

He went to school at Harrow then moved to the army officer school of
Sandhurst before joining the Grenadier Guards.

His interest in photography was sparked when his mother gave him a
camera as he was sent off to boarding school at the tender age of
seven.

To the dismay of his parents Viscount Anson and Princess Anne of
Denmark, who promptly cut off his allowance, he became a photographer's
assistant when he left the army in October 1962 as the 1960s began to
get into their stride.

His social connections opened doors to him worldwide -- including those
of Buckingham Palace -- giving him unprecedented access to the cream of
society and the arts. He photographed hosts of beautiful women for
fashion magazines and calendars.

"I think people will remember him best for those fantastic pictures he
took at Charles and Diana's wedding," royal biographer Ingrid Seward
told Sky News.

"There was an informal moment and they were all falling about laughing
and I think that is probably one of the pictures that people will
remember best."

Once a heavy smoker and drinker, he gave up the former and all but
stopped the latter after suffering a fractured skull, broken back and
punctured lung in an accident on Mustique in the early 1990s.

His 1975 marriage to Lady Leonora Grosvenor -- which produced three
children Rose, Thomas and Eloise -- ended in divorce after 11 years
amid revelations of his affair with a model.



Many thanks to Stevie Davidson for posting this obituary