Lichfield, Thomas Patrick John Anson, fifth earl of

▪ 2006

 British photographer (b. April 25, 1939, Staffordshire, Eng.—d. Nov. 11, 2005, Oxford, Eng.), was admired for his iconic images of London in the “swinging 1960s” and for his royal portraits, notably the official photographs of the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. As a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, Patrick Lichfield (as he preferred to be called) had access to all levels of society, and his pictorial subjects ranged from rock musicians and other artists to socialites and politicians. He showed an interest in photography as a student at Harrow and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, and after a seven-year stint in the Grenadier Guards, he switched careers. He often used his natural charm, humour, and unconventional methods (such as blowing a referee's whistle) to entice his subjects to cooperate. Lichfield contributed photos to such glossy magazines as Life and Vogue and authored several photographic books. His images were the subject of an exhibition in 2003 at the National Portrait Gallery. Lichfield was named a fellow of the British Institute of Professional Photographers and was a member of the Royal Photographic Society. He succeeded his grandfather as earl in 1960.

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