Criticised For Surreptitious Photos Of Queen, Princess

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30629, 21 December 1964, Page 2

Criticised For Surreptitious Photos Of Queen, Princess

(N.Z.P.A.- Reuter —Copyright) LONDON, December 20. The Press Council today condemned a freelance photographer over photos he took of the Queen and Princess Margaret relaxing beside a lake.

The council had received complaints from the Queen and members of the public after the publication of the photos in the “Sunday Express” and “People” on July 26. Among the photographs was one of the Queen helping Princess Margaret to don a water-ski jacket over her bathing suit. The Royal couple were relaxing at a lake in Sunninghill Park, Ascot Heath, Berkshire. The Press Council found that the photographer, Mr R. Bellisario, had taken the photos “surreptitiously” when the Royal couple were unaware of him, and by trespassing on the Queen’s private ground.

The council said it was satisfied Mr Bellisario, who denied trespassing, deceived the editors of the two newspapers about the circumstances in which he had taken the photos.

I The council said it “unreservedly condemns” Mr Bellisario’s actions.

It also strongly censured a “Daily Express” photographer. Robert Haswell, who, it said, had been found in the Queen’s private grounds intending to take photographs.

The council said it had been told by Mr Haswell that he was accompanied by an Australian photographer, Morris Wilmot, whom he met by chance. The council had been unable to get a statement from Mr Wilmot who was reported to have returned to Australia. Queen Concerned The council gave details of a letter it had received from the Queen’s press secretary, Commander Richard Colville.

“The Queen has noted with concern the attempts made by individual press photographers over the past weeks to intrude on the privacy of Her Majesty and Her Royal Highness the Princess Margaret who have used the grounds of Sunninghill Park for picnics and water-ski-ing,” the letter said.

It cited the photos taken by Mr Bellisario on July 25 and went on: “On the following day when Her Royal Highness was again preparing

to water-ski, a ‘Daily Express’ photographer, Mr Robert Haswell, and a free-lance photographer, a Mr Wilmot, were discovered by a forester hidden in the undergrowth lying on the ground, with their cameras trained on the hut where Her Royal Highness was changing into her clothes. “These two persons were escorted off the private property and were therefore prevented from taking any pictures.

“The Queen considers that behaviour of this sort, which has continued throughout the summer months, constitutes an unreasonable intrusion on the private lives of both Her Majesty and Her Royal Highness.” Modern Equipment After the press council findings were made public, Mr Bellisario issued a statement in which he said he still denied he trespassed to get the Royal pictures. Mr Bellisario said: “As you know, these particular photographs were not the first. I still deny that there was any trespass. With modern equipment there is no need to cawl about the bushes playing cowboys and Indians. The report shows that two other photographers tried this and failed.”