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British royals are part of one of the most photographed families in the world. The constant presence of camera lens has caught a few members of the House of Windsor in embarrassing or questionable situations in the past. 

Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson were photographed with Adolf Hitler months after the Duke of Windsor’s abdication.

Prince Harry was famously photographed dressed as a Nazi during a party in the US in his 20s.

And some pictures of Prince Charles and the then-Camilla Parker Bowles sparked speculation on whether they were a couple before they revealed they were in a relationship two years after the death of Princess Diana.

However, the Royal Family doesn’t shy away from photography but welcomes camera lenses as they are vital for its survival, according to Lucy Worsley, the chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces. 

Asked by The Times whether the monarchy would have had a smoother history without photography being involved, Ms Worsley said: “Absolutely not.”

She continued: “Actually, quite the contrary. The royal family see photography as their very own superpower.”

Pictures taken during royal engagements and tours and portraits released to mark important occasions are particularly powerful and bear messages to the viewers, she added.

The expert said: “Every image carries a message and nobody understands this better than the Royal Family.”

Ms Worsley will appear tonight on a BBC Four programme called Lucy Worsley’s Royal Photo Album which will explore the relationship between the royals and the cameras.

In her interview with The Times, Ms Worsley pointed out what an important part photography has played into the survival and success of the Royal Family.

Without being in front of the camera lenses, the royals would not have a stage to perform on, the expert suggested.

The first member of the Royal Family to embrace photography have been Prince Albert and Queen Victoria.

Ms Worsley said: “They were quick to realise that photography presented not a problem but an opportunity.”

And after the death of her beloved husband, Queen Victoria used pictures to first maintain her public presence and second to relaunch a new image of herself – as a powerful Empress and living legend, according to the expert.

Speaking about the techniques used in the Victorian Era to retouch photographs, Ms Worsley said: “It wasn’t motivated by vanity.   

“The nation didn’t want to see a granny.

“They wanted to see a living legend.”

Similarly, photography played a big role in launching the reign of Queen Elizabeth II in 1952.

Speaking about the iconic coronation portrait by Cecil Beaton, the expert said: “[It was] like the sales pitch for a new reign.” 

The Queen herself embraced photography and film-making first hand and, after being given a camera by her late father King George VI, gathered pictures and clips during her first tours.

Today, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, has made a name for herself with her pictures.

The Duchess marks important occasions within her family by sharing a never-before-seen snap.

But she has also recently branched out from using mostly members of her family as subjects.

In January, she marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day by taking two moving portraits featuring two people who survived Auschwitz alongside their grandchildren.  

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