His happy portrait of Queen Elizabeth, beaming at the camera and wearing bright pink lipstick, superimposed against the Union Flag, became one of the defining images of our much-missed monarch.
However, photographer Rankin is deeply saddened by the furore over the picture of the Princess of Wales and her three children that was published on Mothering Sunday.
Catherine felt the need to apologize for ‘editing’ the photograph taken of her husband Prince William after some of the world’s biggest picture agencies were forced to ‘kill’ the image over fears it had been digitally ‘manipulated’ .
Rankin says that Catherine should not be criticized for tampering with the portrait. “Give her a good break,” he tells me. ‘She was in hospital two months ago (undergoing scheduled abdominal surgery).’
Her apology was ‘not necessary’, he insists, because her portrait was ‘a personal picture she posted for Mother’s Day’. He says: ‘It’s only because people think we own her that we have this criticism of her.’
Photographer Rankin (pictured) is deeply saddened by the furore over the picture of the Princess of Wales and her three children published on Mothering Sunday
Catherine felt the need to apologize for ‘editing’ the photograph taken of her husband, Prince William, after some of the world’s biggest picture agencies were forced to ‘kill’ the image over fears it had been digitally ‘manipulated’.
The changes she made were, he suspects, to present the couple’s children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, in the best possible light.
Speaking at the private viewing of his portraits, the Rankin: Sound Off collection, at the Tin Man Art Gallery in South Kensington, west London, he said: ‘From my personal perspective it looked like they were just putting pictures together , because when you have children, it is very difficult – they move around a lot.
‘When you’re shooting kids, you have to make it fun for them, you have to engage them, and you have to do it fast. If you’re not a professional, you don’t do any of that.’
After capturing the late Queen in 2002 to mark her golden jubilee when she was 75, Rankin was called by King Charles to Clarence House last year as he prepared to turn 75 himself.
The black-and-white close-up, which showed him with a twinkle in his eye, appeared on the cover of Big Issue magazine.
Have I Got News For You’s Paul Merton will not receive any bulletins via his smartphone.
‘I don’t have a mobile,’ says the comedian. ‘People can email me. I’m not a 24-hour plumber so I don’t get emergency calls saying, ‘I’m up to my neck in water – can you get to Tunbridge Wells in 40 minutes’.
Savannah blasts Lily’s ‘kids ruined my career’ claim
Pop singer Lily Allen’s comment that having children ‘ruined’ her career has upset fashion designer Savannah Miller.
“I think it’s absolutely abhorrent that anyone would suggest that it’s as binary as: you can have a career or you can have children,” she shuddered.
“Frankly, that message is harmful to our sons, to our daughters and to everyone.”
Savannah, 45, who has three children with ex-husband Nick Skinner, added: ‘Overs have to be brought but I was there reading stories and drying rooms.
‘I give my children absolutely everything I have and I will continue to do so until the day I die because they are my reason for living.’
Pop singer Lily Allen’s (pictured) comment that having children ‘ruined’ her career has upset fashion designer Savannah Miller
“I think it’s absolutely abhorrent that anyone would suggest that it’s as binary as: you can have a career or you can have children,” says Savannah Miller (pictured)
Fits you… Trinny’s classic Cindy styling
Having made her name as co-host of hit BBC TV show What Not To Wear, Trinny Woodall knows a thing or two about dramatic makeovers.
And the stylist turned beauty entrepreneur is almost unrecognizable with her new androgynous look.
Woodall, 60, showed off his black Valentino suit and tie outfit with his hair slicked back in a video online. She explains that it is a tribute to one of supermodel Cindy Crawford’s memorable looks from the 1990s.
“We all have our favorite ’90s style moments, and for me this structured, Cindy Crawford-inspired suit moment is up there with the best,” she says.
Having made her name as co-host of hit BBC TV show What Not To Wear, Trinny Woodall (pictured) knows a thing or two about dramatic makeovers
Woodall, 60, showed off his black Valentino suit and tie outfit with his hair slicked back in a video online. She explains that it’s a tribute to one of supermodel Cindy Crawford’s (pictured) memorable looks from the 1990s
Older male officials once dressed soberly, preferring crisp white shirts to signal how reliable they were. Not anymore.
A fashion atrocity was discovered this week when George Shirley, new director of asylum operations at the Home Office, appeared at a parliamentary hearing.
Sitting with her formally dressed minister, Shirley was wearing a blue floral shirt more suited to a night out at a nightclub.
A fashion atrocity was discovered this week when George Shirley (pictured), new director of asylum operations at the Home Office, appeared at a parliamentary hearing
Cocaine hunt for a duchess
The Duchess of Northumberland has a cocaine problem. Jane Percy, as she is known, is not addicted to the drug but struggles to secure coca seeds for her specially licensed Poison Garden in Alnwick, her husband’s ancestral seat.
But procuring samples has proven more challenging than expected.
After continuously reaching out to British embassies in Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Columbia, attempts to obtain the seeds have so far proved futile.
‘We run a drug education program which provides a unique opportunity to think about the plants that drugs come from and the dangers these drugs pose.
‘Unfortunately, we are missing the part of the story that explains the pain and suffering in the countries where coca is grown and cocaine is processed.’
The Duchess of Northumberland (pictured right) has a cocaine problem. Jane Percy, as she is known, is not addicted to the drug but struggles to secure coca seeds for her specially licensed Poison Garden in Alnwick, her husband’s ancestral seat
I’m not suggesting that BBC radio is boring, but even one of its presenters admits to nodding off – in the middle of a live broadcast.
BBC Radio 5 Live’s Lisa McCormick says: ‘I’m switched on between 1 am and 5 am and I fell asleep in the air. I slept properly, not just a little doze. I probably snored – it was bad’.
She adds: ‘I was woken up by a neighbor calling my name. A bit of sound was played so it was OK.’
BBC Radio 5 Live’s Lisa McCormick (pictured) says: ‘I’m between 01:00 and 05:00 and I fell asleep in the air. I slept properly, not just a little doze. I snore enough – it was bad’
Forget the row over the Eton v Harrow cricket match, whose future at Lord’s is the subject of furious debate.
The students at Harrow certainly have – at least today. I can reveal that they will all be at Twickenham – 15 on the pitch and the rest cheering from the stands.
“School is canceled for the day,” explains rugby champion James Melville. ‘Everyone buzzes. We get 850 boys in full voice.’
Facing them in the Continental Tires Schools Cup final will be Kirkham Grammar School from Lancashire, whose alumni include former England scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth.
The students at Harrow certainly have – at least today. I can reveal they will all be at Twickenham (pictured) – 15 on the pitch and the rest roaring in support from the stands
Sacre bleu! Fred flies the flag
Ooh La La! Fred Sirieix, the charming maitre d’ on Channel 4 show First Dates, has demonstrated his love for his homeland while on holiday in the West Indies.
In online pictures from Jamaica, the Frenchman, 52, posed in a pair of suitcases emblazoned with the tricolor flag.
He says he faced a dilemma over whether to wear them or a pair with the Jamaican flag. “Which one would you wear?” he asks his fans.