There are countless documentaries and films that have been made about Queen Elizabeth II. But I was intrigued by Portrait of the Queen as it’s told from the perspective of the Queen’s photographers. Not to be confused with Elizabeth: A Portrait in Parts released last year by Roger Michell.

It’s exactly a year and a day since the Queen passed away on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96. The film’s logline says that she was the most photographed, the most loved and talked about woman on the planet, and I don’t think that’s a hyperbole. British actor Charles Dance narrates the documentary, we only see his floating headset against a black background in black and white which makes him look ominous instead of personable.

Not sure if director Fabrizio Ferri wants them to look edgy, which might work better for a fashion documentary. Ferri started out as a photojournalist and later became a fashion photographer, so that could explain the rock-n-roll choice of music as well. I actually don’t mind that part, it adds an unexpected but fun touch. The film features famous photos of the monarch and interviews with the lensmen who took them.

I won’t call myself a royalist, though I do admire the Queen, especially her sense of duty. She seems to always be in control, and that’s the impression I get from the brief experiences the photographers share about their interactions with her.  It’s quite amusing to learn some of the tidbits about the day of the shoot, such as one by John Swannell who desperately attempted to make the Queen smile, only to be told by her aide that Her Majesty refused to smile on cue.

Another memorable tale was from Julian Calder, who photographed Her Majesty at Scotland’s Balmoral Castle to capture her as the Queen of Scots. It’s tricky enough to photograph the monarch indoors, but the outdoor setting sure had its own set of challenges. But the most fascinating tale comes from Chris Levine, whose holographic imagery is perhaps the most modern and unusual portrait I’ve seen. Apparently, it was a happy accident that he captured the one with her eyes closed which looks as if she’s in a meditative trance.

The portraits’ style and tone may vary, but one thing these photographers have in common is how privileged they feel that they were chosen to photograph the Queen. There are a couple of celebrities being interviewed, such as Isabella Rossellini and Susan Sarandon. Not sure why Sarandon was chosen as her story of meeting the Queen is all that extraordinary, I bet there are countless other stories from not-so-famous folks that are far more interesting.

I have seen a lot of the images featured here, though I was hoping to see more of ‘day in the life’ photos of the Queen instead of her draped in all the glittering regalia. As amusing as it is to hear from the lensmen who have photographed the Queen, it doesn’t really offer an in-depth portrait of the monarch beyond what’s generally known. The film would certainly appeal to ardent British royalists, though it’s unlikely to stand out in a pack of so many others that have been made about the Queen.

Have you seen Portrait of the Queen? I’d love to hear what you think!

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