arch

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Joan Williams / Rex Features (270064v) At Home With The Windsors In 1969 thousands sat glued to their television screens as a documentary lifted the lid on the Royal Family for the first time. Viewers around the world were enthralled by 'Royal Family', which took a behind-the-scenes look at the Windsors. BBC stills photographer Joan Williams was offered an even more intimate glimpse than most into this hithero unseen world. As the only photographer attached to the documentary team she produced a candid collection of images that revealed the Royal Family in a whole new light. When word first got out about the documentary being filmed, newspapers across the country clamoured to get their photographers involved. However, the decision was made to invite just one - and Joan had her work on children's TV show Blue Peter to thank for being chosen. She comments: "The year before I'd photographed the royal children when they came into the Blue Peter studio to meet the presenters and animals. "Afterwards, the photos were sent to the palace by the producer of the program. "Then the following year when they were making the Royal Family they didn't have a stills photographer with them. "They'd been filming for four months when the whole of Fleet Street heard and they all wanted to send in their photographers. "Of course that wasn't possible because the production and palace wanted control. "The palace remembered my stills of the children and it was suggested that I join them". Without a second to feel any nerves, Joan received the phone call offering her the job - and started the very next day. "I was thrown in the deep end, but you take it in your stride because it was just another assignment - though admittedly a fantastic one. "I didn't find it stressful at all. I just thought I was very privileged". Over the course of a y... For more information visit http://www.rexfeatures.com/stacklink/IEQLRMHPV