When the Prince and Princess of Wales tied the knot 13 years ago, their choice of official photographer came as no surprise.
The couple's official pictures were taken by society photographer Hugo Burnard, who had previously worked for King Charles and Queen Camilla. But he wasn't the only snapper hired by the couple for the wedding. Little-known portrait photographer Millie Pilkington was also there taking images - but for a very different reason. Millie was handpicked by William and Kate as their personal photographer to capture the day for their own personal wedding album and those pictures have been pretty much kept under lock and key - until now.
That's because when William and Kate marked 13 years of marriage earlier this week, they opted to share a gorgeous black and white photo snapped by Millie on social media as a way of celebrating the day. It's now one of several pictures the Wales family have shared of themselves and their children taken by Millie, who has also caught their eye of Charles and Camilla after being hired by them recently to take a sweet anniversary photo.
It marks a long journey for Millie, who is based in Dorset and only took up photography full time after marrying in 2000. She initially became known for her wedding and children's portraits. Her first brush with the royal world came after Kate's mum Carole Middleton spotted Millie's work on the cover of a local magazine called Families South West and hired her to take images for her business Party Pieces.
And it's through this connection that she was likely introduced to Kate, with her big break coming at the royal wedding in 2011. Millie once told Sheerluxe.com: "If I had to describe it in three words, that day was surreal, magical and terrifying! And the most incredible honour – I still struggle to believe I was there."
That job led to commissions across the UK and the world, with more of her work appearing in the public realm. Her website states: "Whether photographing in her state-of-the-art studio in Dorset, or on location, Millie is known for doing whatever it takes to get the shot, from balancing precariously at the top of a ladder to wading through a pond.
"Her ability to capture the spirit of a moment, a child, a family, a relationship or a character gives her images an emotional truth and beauty that can be profoundly affecting."
However, it wasn't until last year that more of her photos of the Wales family came to light when William and Kate released two of her photos taken of Prince Louis to mark his fifth birthday.
One of the heartwarming pictures showed him sitting in a wheelbarrow being pushed by mum Kate and a flurry of photos of their children followed on Princess Charlotte's birthday, on Father's Day with a lovely picture of William surrounded by his children and on Prince George's milestone 10th birthday.
However, it is not just the Wales family who have used her talents, earlier this month she also shot a charming picture of Charles and Camilla to mark the upcoming first anniversary of their Coronation. In the picture, Charles and Camilla are shown smiling broadly and walking arm in arm along a path with shrubs and colourful flowers in the background at Buckingham Palace.
She wrote on Instagram : "Feeling truly honoured to have been asked to take this portrait of Their Majesties the King and Queen earlier this month in Buckingham Palace Gardens. And delighted that His Majesty the King is recovering so well."