Royal photographer shares memories from Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Queen Elizabeth celebrates her Platinum Jubilee in a four-day extravaganza, kicking off today with events across the UK and the Commonwealth.

Ahead of the big day, Getty Images royal photographer Chris Jackson reflected on the "poignant" moment he experienced while snapping iconic images from Her Majesty's last jubilee, in 2012.

"The Diamond Jubilee was something that I think is so salient in my memory," Jackson tells 9Honey over Zoom. (Watch above.)

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"I actually photographed it from the Chelsea Bridge, which my great-grandfather designed many, many years ago – he was an architect for the Greater London Authority.

"It just struck me as very poignant that I was on this bridge that generations ago my great-grandfather designed, and this armada of boats was [now] travelling underneath. It was such an incredible sight.

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"I wondered what he would have thought about that back in the day and millions of people lining the River Thames. And seeing all these people cheering and hanging out of houses over the side of the river, this great spectacle with the Queen at forefront was amazing."

Jackson remembers "horrendous weather" on the day some 2,000 boats made their way towards Tower Bridge as Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip watched on in delight from their vessel.

"The heavens opened and a few of my colleagues got absolutely drenched further up the river, but I managed to escape it."

Before capturing the flotilla on June 4, 2012, Jackson also travelled on a number of royal tours with other members of the British royal family, as they took the Diamond Jubilee celebrations across parts of the Commonwealth.

"There was a huge amount of celebration around this period from the younger members of the royal family winging their way around the world," Jackson recalls to 9Honey.

"I think there were trips to the Solomon Islands, Paupa New Guinea, the Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge — it was such a big year travel-wise.

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"I think it really captured the imagination of the public, there were some beautiful images."

And just like last time, the snapper has again been travelling a lot in the lead up to this year's celebrations, including a trip to the Caribbean with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and a visit to Canada with Prince Charles and Camilla as part of a series of Platinum Jubilee royal tours.

Jackson, who has been in the job almost 20 years, says he still finds the joy and excitement in it all.

"What's so special about photographing the royal family is having a front-row seat at these periods of great public celebration... and it [usually] hits me at that kind of moment."