Court Photographer’s Receptionist

Northern Advocate, 27 May 1941, Page 7

Court Photographer’s Receptionist

The honour of photographing Princess Elizabeth was accorded Mrs. Richard Jacobs when she was working in London for Marcus Adams, the celebrated 1 child photographer, states the “Sydney Morning Herald”, whose representative interviewed Mrs. Jacobs.

Mrs. Jacobs, who was formerly Catherine Ainsworth, of Sydney, returned a few months ago as an evacuee with her three-year-old daughter, Patricia Ann. She was with Marcus Adams for four years as his “studio secretary”, an unusual position which requires no clerical work and mainly entails receiving the clients and making them feel at home.

“The studio resembles a vast playroom stocked with every variety of toy from huge stuffed lions to fascinating pieces of jewellery, and Mr. Adams will see only four clients a day. As he takes almost 80 shots of each client, he has no time for more sitters,” said Mrs. Jacobs.

“Of course, the most thrilling times were when Mr. Adams was photographing members of the Royal Family. Usually Princess Elizabeth and - Princess Margaret Rose arrived first with their nurse, and the King and Queen arrived a little later.

“They were all delightfully natural, and the Queen used to ask us questions about her children. One day I remember her saying, ‘Don’t you think Margaret Rose has improved lately ? ’ “Princess Elizabeth has the most charming manners, and when she arrived at the studio, she would shake

hands with us all. She was both dignified and unspoilt, and I remember that she always carried a little handbag which was adorned by a small crown.

“Her main delight in the studio was a small fountain which she found she could stop by putting her finger over a hole, and she used to have great fun squirting the water, much to her younger sister’s amusement. “Princess Elizabeth always liked to hold a little watch set in a circular glass frame when she was being photographed, and when Princess Margaret Rose grew older she also took a fancy to the watch. There was a slight tension between the two until their mother decided that her elder daughter could keep it. “Another of Princess Elizabeth’s delights was -a special gramophone record which she liked to be the musical accompaniment to her photograph sittings. ‘Would you put on my favourite tune?’ she would ask me,” continued Mrs. Jacobs. Saw The King And His Brothers. It was Bertram Park another famous photographer, who gave Mrs. Jacobs her chance of watching the King and his brothers being photographed when the King was the Duke of York. The occasion was one night when they came to his studio after the Court to have their photograph' taken together as a present for Queen Mary. “When they were there they insisted on going to Marcus Adam’s studio to see where Princess Elizabeth was photographed, and Mr. Adams took an informal photograph of them examining the toys. This was not for publication,” explained Mrs. Jacobs.