Straight From Windsor Castle
After my friend, Simone Pound, received her MBE at Windsor Castle from The King, we then met for a Family Portrait Session to document the moment for Simone and her family. As the excitement of the day was still so fresh, it truly felt like a privilege to capture such an exciting event just after it had happened. Photographing an MBE ceremony Windsor Castle.
As we walked nearby, I found a street just opposite Windsor Castle full of Union Jack flags—it was as if it was waiting for us! Meanwhile, Simone popped into a nearby shop and picked up some extra flags for her and her family, which really made this photo pop.
So, read on to discover what it’s like photographing an MBE ceremony at Windsor Castle (after).
What an MBE Means
An MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) is an honour awarded for outstanding achievement or service to the community—therefore, it is a huge recognition of someone’s hard work and impact. The ceremony itself is a once-in-a-lifetime moment, marking years of dedication in just a few unforgettable minutes.
What Simone Received Her MBE For
Simone Pound MBE has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to equality, diversity, and inclusion in professional football. In particular, through her long-standing work at the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), she has helped shape more inclusive practices across the game.
Furthermore, she has played a key role in developing and delivering anti-discrimination initiatives and works closely with major football organisations, including the FA and Premier League. As a result, her leadership has helped ensure equality and diversity are embedded across football operations and development programmes.
Ultimately, her MBE honours the lasting impact she has made in driving positive change and creating a more inclusive environment within the sport.
Behind the Lens
On the day, it was cloudy, which is (my) perfect shooting condition. Essentially, think of the clouds above as a massive diffuser box, making all the light soft on everyone, with no harsh shadows.
As always, I used my Nikon mirrorless camera with a 24–70mm f/4 lens for some of the shots by the castle, and then my 70–200mm f/2.8 for the rest.
The settings for the above image were as follows:
ISO 160 1/500 f/2.8 +0.3 exp
The Long Walk
Afterwards, we headed around to the historic Long Walk. We took some family images here too, and it was rather busy. However, we chose a pretty spot and still managed to take lots of lovely images.
Along the way, so many people were asking what she received her MBE for, including a group of Brownies who listened to Simone and even joined in singing the Brownie song altogether.
As a result, it became such a lovely moment, inspiring the next generation of children.
Highlight Image
This image was my favourite from the day…A family captured altogether
Privilege
Overall, it was such a privilege to be able to capture these moments. These are exactly the kinds of moments I love to document—real, emotional, and full of significance. Therefore, I’m so grateful to have been trusted to preserve these moments. Simone and her family can look back on them for years to come.
You can view my family work HERE
Some shoots stay with you for a long time – and this was one of them for me.
You can watch the reel I made of the day here on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DWlGUjgDwnX/
Congratulations Simone!
Lots of love
Zoe xxx
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