Hastings photographer who captured Queen in close up shot on Coronation Day dies

Chris Barham passed away aged 87 on June 19.

He made his career as a photographer, much of it being for the Daily Mail.

Throughout his 30-year career he took pictures of many famous people, including heads of state.

However, it was at the age of 20 and fresh out of National Service that he took the photograph of the Queen and Prince Philip, which was published worldwide. He had managed to station himself in Fleet Street, despite police cordons, where he knew the newly-crowned Queen Elizabeth and her consort would be passing in the golden State Coach.

The picture he was able to take showed the smiling Queen waving to the cheering crowds, Prince Philip beside her, both framed by the elaborate gilded coach.

The picture was used in the BBC documentary The People’s Coronation, marking the 60th anniversary of the day.

The iconic photograph helped launch his career.

Friend Hew Goldingham said: “I met Chris shortly after moving to Hastings when we were both walking with our golden retrievers, and my wife and I became close friends with Chris and his wife Elke.

“Chris had a natural talent for forming close relationships, which enabled him to bond with the subjects of many of his iconic photographs, both statesmen, stars of screen stage and arena, and other well-known people.

“Among those who posed for him were Winston Churchill - another iconic photograph.

“Chris obtained the desired effect by depriving Winston of his cigar, much to his annoyance which is reflected in the photograph.

“Another exceptional and indeed moving photograph taken by Chris was of the dying gaunt-faced Shah of Iran.

“Subjects of film, stage and arena included Bob Hope - taken on his 90th birthday when together they sang Thanks For The Memory, Bob Hope’s signature tune and Chris’s favourite, Burl Ives, Louis Armstrong, Ursula Andress, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, Barry Humphries as Dame Edna Everidge, Margot Fonteyn, Rudolph Nureyev, Jayne Mansfield, Joan Collins, Twiggy, Torville and Dean, Yuri Geller, The BeeGees, and many, many more, these being just some of the framed images in Chris’ house in Hastings.

“Our hearts go out to Chris’ widow Elke and his family. We have lost a great friend.”

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