Queen's distress at death of Lord Lichfield

Tributes are pouring in for Lord Lichfield, one of Britain's best-known photographers, who has died after suffering a stroke.

Friends and colleagues joined some of the famous faces he photographed to remember the "charming" man with royal connections who produced a string of iconic images during his lengthy career.

The Queen was left "deeply saddened" at the sudden death of her 66-year-old first cousin once removed, who was famous for capturing the Royal Family on camera.

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In July 1981, Lord Lichfield was presented with the formidable task of shooting the official photographs at the wedding of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer.

He died after falling ill suddenly while staying with friends in the Oxford area.

Family at bedside

Members of his family were at his bedside as he was treated in John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

A statement released on behalf of Lichfield Studios by his photographic agent Camera Press said: "The Earl of Lichfield died peacefully."

His long-term partner was Lady Annunziata Asquith.

Former girlfriend and actress Britt Ekland, who was photographed by Lichfield in 1970 and posed for him again two years ago, said: "I am deeply shocked and surprised by his death.

"Lord Lichfield was a wonderful photographer."

Lady Antonia Fraser was captured in his 1960s work Swinging London, which also featured Roman Polanski and artist David Hockney.

"It is terribly sad news," she said. "What I remember most is that he made the sitting such fun.

"It was so enjoyable because he had such high spirits - that it is hard now to believe he is dead - and you got a lovely picture at the end of it."

Lord Lichfield had been working in the studio the day before he fell ill and recently took portraits of Baroness Thatcher for her 80th birthday celebrations.

Former prime minister Lady Thatcher said: "Patrick Lichfield was not only one of the most talented and professional of photographers, he was also an absolute delight to sit for.

"Always courteous and considerate, he had a rare skill which is now sadly gone."

'Proved himself'

Fellow photographer Terry O'Neill said Lord Lichfield proved himself despite being from the posh part of town.

Mr O'Neill told BBC News 24: "We were from the poor side of town. He was from the posh side of town... He did take a lot of stick in the beginning.

"He proved himself. He stuck to his task."

He added: "He had a lot of fabulous jobs lined up to do. I'm in a state of shock at the moment."

Former royal press officer Dickie Arbiter said Lord Lichfield had the Royal Family's trust and that his death would have touched the Queen deeply.

He said: "Patrick was very close to the Queen. He was Patrick Lichfield first and Lord Lichfield second.

"He was passionate about his work, and his work was more important to him than any hereditary title."

Novelist Jilly Cooper worked with Lord Lichfield on a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Unipart calendar.

"He was just a gorgeous man, lovely and intensely glamorous. He was charming and very kind to the models," she said.

"He had an ability to pick out something in people, including those who are non-beauties, and make us look wonderful, but I think he also wanted to be regarded as a serious photographer.

Famous photos

Lord Lichfield was always associated with the Sixties era, a period in which he shot some of his most famous pictures.

They included the image of singer Marsha Hunt naked with a giant afro for the musical Hair - a portrait which he recently recreated.

His career as a photographer spanned more than 40 years, during which he worked for Vogue and was awarded fellowships of both the British Institute of Professional Photographers and the Royal Photographic Society.

He was also a great supporter of photography's digital revolution.

He was soldier in the Grenadier Guards for several years before leaving to become an assistant in a commercial London studio and then starting work on his own in the early Sixties.

Other stars he captured on camera ranged from Joanna Lumley and Michael Caine to an intimate portrait of Mick and Bianca Jagger at their wedding in St Tropez in 1971.

Lord Lichfield was the son of Viscount Anson and Princess Anne of Denmark, who was the Queen Mother's niece.

He had three children with his ex-wife Lady Leonora Grosvenor - a son, Tom, and two daughters, Rose and Eloise.