And that became official yesterday when he was admitted into the prestigious Royal Photographic Society’s coveted fellowship — its highest award possible.
In 125 years, just 700 photographers — including David Bailey, Terry O’Neill and Princess Margaret — have had the honour.
Arthur, 81, who has been photographing the Royal Family for The Sun since 1977, received the honour during a surprise ceremony at the Imperial War Museum in London.
He thought he was there to meet a holocaust survivor whose family he had photographed for an exhibition at the museum, which also includes a picture taken by the Duchess of Cambridge.
Instead, a stunned Arthur was given the top honour for “distinctive ability and excellence” over more than four decades of photographing The Queen and her family.
Justin Cohen, who nominated Arthur for the tribute, said: “I would guess he has been to more royal engagements than anyone apart from The Queen, Prince Charles and Princess Anne.
“Arthur has travelled on well over 200 royal tours abroad in a staggering 44 years on The Sun.
He’s met Nelson Mandela, Pope Benedict and Mother Teresa, as well as a catalogue of Prime Ministers and Presidents.
“He is one of the country’s best-known photographers and the longest-serving royal photographer on Fleet Street and he is referred to by Prince Charles himself simply as ‘Arthur’.”
Justin, co-publisher of the Jewish News, came up with the idea for the exhibition of 50 Holocaust survivors having their pictures taken by members of the Royal Photographic Society.a
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