Patrick Anson, 5th Earl of Lichfield

Thomas Patrick John Anson, 5th Earl of Lichfield (25 April 1939 – 11 November 2005) was an English photographer and a first cousin once removed of Queen Elizabeth II, his mother Anne Bowes-Lyon (1917–1980, known as 'Princess Anne of Denmark' after her second marriage) having been a niece of the late Queen Mother. He inherited the Earldom of Lichfield from his paternal grandfather. In his professional practice he was known as Patrick Lichfield.

Career

Lord Lichfield was educated at Harrow and Sandhurst, and joined the Grenadier Guards in 1959. On leaving the Army in 1962, he began to work as a photographer's assistant, and built up his own reputation, partly as a result of having access to the Royal Family. He was selected to take the official photographs of the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1981, and subsequently became one of the UK's best-known photographers. From 1999 onwards he was a pioneer of digital photography at a professional standard. He was chosen by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to take the official pictures of her Golden Jubilee in 2002. His estate was Shugborough Hall, near Cannock Chase in Staffordshire. Nearby is Milford Hall, the estate of the Levett-Haszard family, who are related to the Ansons and who sit on the board of Shugborough.

Family

In 1975 he married Lady Leonora Grosvenor, elder daughter of the 5th Duke of Westminster, but they divorced in 1986. They had one son, Thomas, now 6th Earl of Lichfield, and two daughters, Rose and Eloise.

His most recent partner was the biographer, Lady Annunziata Asquith. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2005/nov/12/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries Lord Lichfield, Obituary, The Guardian, Stephen Bates, November 12, 2005, guardian.co.uk] ]

Death

On 10 November, 2005, Lichfield suffered a major stroke, and died the following day (Remembrance Day) at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, aged 66.

Lichfield's funeral was held on 21 November at St. Michael and All Angels Church, Colwich, Staffordshire, where he was also buried. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4450762.stm]

Bibliography

* "Not the Whole truth" (Autobiography - Constable UK) 1986
* "Lichfield on travel photography" (Constable UK)
* "Hotfoot to Zabriskie Point" (With Jilly Cooper - Constable UK)

References

External links

* [http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/36200,arts,different-class A selection of Lichfield's images 1964–1980]
* [http://www.npg.org.uk/live/lichfield.asp Lichfield: The Early Years 1962–1982] exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, 2003
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4427752.stm BBC News article on his death]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4426492.stm BBC News Obituary]
* [http://www.tree.familyhistory.uk.com/getperson.php?personID=I8335&tree=05 The Royal Family Genealogy: Thomas Patrick John Anson of Lichfield]
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,61-2078356,00.html Memorial Service for Lord Lichfield]