French photographer Jean Pierre Laffont has offered a personal and reflective look back at his long relationship with King Charles.
Jean shared memories of photographing the monarch over more than five decades, from his early royal visits as a young prince to his historic role today as king.
During the recent state visit, Laffont recalled the first meeting with Charles on July 16, 1970 in Washington DC, when the then Prince of Wales visited the White House at the invitation of President Richard Nixon.
In his recollection, Nixon had even mused about a potential royal battle with his daughter Tricia, which has long circulated in accounts of the visit.
The photographer also referenced another assignment in 1986 at Harvard University’s 350th anniversary celebrations in Cambridge, where Charles gave a speech during the prestigious commemorations.
Reflecting on the present, Laffont wrote that although he had “never stuck with the English royal family”, he always found Charles “smart and funny.”
He added that the king’s recent speech to the US Congress was “fantastic” and “refreshing” for its focus on climate change, global stability, NATO cooperation and the war in Ukraine.
The remarks come as Charles wraps up a high-profile state visit to the US, during which he addressed Congress to a standing ovation and attended diplomatic meetings in Washington DC, New York and Virginia.
