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Newly-wed Prince William 'left handbrake on'

Prince William drove his new bride to Clarence House in a convertible Aston Martin trailing balloons

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Prince William apparently left the handbrake on as he drove his new bride Catherine away in a classic Aston Martin, a royal photographer has said.

The Sun's Arthur Edwards told BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs that it was Prince Charles who had divulged news of the royal couple's shaky start.

The newly-weds had borrowed Charles's car to drive to Clarence House as part of their wedding day celebrations.

Mr Edwards said William had made sure he got the best balcony kiss shot.

He told the programme he had wanted a position outside the palace with a view of the balcony "because great things have happened" there.

However, his pass meant he was due to be stationed outside Westminster Abbey, where the couple were married.

But after a request from the prince - who wanted copies of the photos for himself - Mr Edwards was allowed to photograph the now-famous kiss on Buckingham Palace's balcony.

"That was a pleasure to do that," he said.

A royal photographer for 35 years, Mr Edwards - appointed an MBE in 2003 for services to journalism - also recounted one of his early jobs, when he was given the task of taking Prince Charles's picture.

The prince had just moved into Highgrove House and Mr Edwards was tasked to photograph him on his estate so he chose a public footpath at the bottom of the gardens as his position to take the shot.

"I'm walking along this path with a big telescopic lens on my shoulder and he came galloping up on his horse," he said.

"'What are you doing on my land?' he screamed and I said 'I'm not on your land, I'm on a public footpath sir'.

Arthur Edwards Arthur Edwards has been a royal photographer for the Sun for more than 35 years

"He said 'public footpaths are for walking on, not taking pictures from'. I didn't know what else to say so I just said 'I'm doing my job' and he said 'some job'. So I said 'at least I've got a job'.

"I didn't mean it as an insult but he took it as one and he just whacked his horse and went back to the house with steam coming out of his ears."

Mr Edwards, who has also photographed Nelson Mandela and the Pope, said one of his biggest regrets was that he had taken the first photograph of a pregnant Princess Diana.

Although he was "hailed a hero" by his then editor Kelvin MacKenzie, he said it was the "first and only time" he had taken a photograph of the royals when they did not know he was there.

He said royal photography was very aggressive in the 1980s, but now there was a much more gentle approach.

Arthur Edwards' interview with Kirsty Young was broadcast on Sunday 25 September and will be repeated on Friday 30 September at 0900 BST on BBC Radio 4. Listen again online or browse the extensive Desert Island Discs archive.

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