Woman who took iconic Christmas photo of royal four has earned £40,000 in past year

Capturing the royal couples at Sandringham was ‘like a lottery win’, says photographer Karen Anvil

Photographed by Karen Anvil (GoffPhotos)

When the royal family visited Sandringham in December last year, as per their annual Christmas tradition, a throng of professional photographers was waiting for them, all vying to capture the most coveted shot of the day.

While there may have been stiff competition to reach the front of the crowds to catch a glimpse of the royals leaving St. Mary Magdalene Church, one woman managed to take a photo that was so unique it has earned her around £40,000 in the past year alone.

Taking the photo of the royal four has been "like a lottery win", Karen Anvil tells the BBC.

"The biggest change for me was that it was so nice to go shopping at Tesco and not be worried about whether I've got the cash in the bank," she says.

The 40-year-old from Watlington, Norfolk, was working two jobs at the time so that she could support her daughter’s nursing education.

She and her daughter, Rachel, had been particularly keen to see the Duchess of Sussex at Sandringham, whose engagement to the Duke of Sussex had only been announced a month prior.

"We really wanted to see Meghan, so we made a morning of it. It really is as simple as that!" Anvil told The Independent last year.

At 10.55am on Christmas Day, Anvil captured the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex walking alongside one another, smiling cheerfully at the crowds as they passed them by.

Her photo sparked such an incredible reaction on social media that many advised her to acquire an agent quickly.

Photographed by Karen Anvil (GoffPhotos)

Since last year, the iconic photo has been sold to at least 50 countries and featured in a variety of publications and on TV channels all around the world.

Anvil's photography prowess has rewarded her with a regular monthly income, which can range from £600 to £6,000.

It's also led to a variety of incredible experiences, including the opportunity to become BBC Radio 5 Live's unofficial wedding photographer at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's royal wedding in May 2018.

"The atmosphere here is absolutely amazing!" Anvil tweeted while in Windsor on the day of the nuptials.

Anvil had the chance to meet Prince Harry after appearing on an episode of BBC's The One Show, where she and a professional photographer competed to take the best photo of the Duke.

"I asked him if he had seen my Christmas photo and, after looking at my quizzically, he suddenly smiled and said: 'I hope you've been paid a lot of money for it,'" she tells the BBC.

Photo taken by Karen Anvil at royal wedding on 19 May 2018 (Karen Anvil)

Anvil will be embarking on a new career in radiology in February 2019, having taken a few months off work to decorate her house.

She explains to The Independent that she's wanted to venture into the field of radiology for years, but couldn't in the past "due to parental commitments" and not being "flexible enough for the role".

In May 2018, Anvil bequeathed all of the money that she's earned from last year's Christmas Day royal photo to her teenage daughter Rachel.

Karen with her daughter Rachel (Karen Anvil)

In January 2019 Rachel will begin a new job at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge, with the hope of applying for the nursing programme at the hospital next year.

The pair recently celebrated Rachel's 18th birthday in Paris, the first time that either of them had ever been abroad.

They're both going to be returning to Sandringham on Christmas Day this year so that they can see the royal family once more.

Rachel is in awe of everything that her mother has achieved over the past year, as she explains to the BBC.

"Mum knew this was a one-off and wanted to use every penny wisely," she says.

"Every penny the photo has made has gone on our family and our home. Even the guinea pigs. I'm so proud of her."