'I took photos of the late Queen – her brilliant six-word reply spoke volumes'

'I took photos of the late Queen – her brilliant six-word reply spoke volumes' The photographer behind some well-known portraits of Queen Elizabeth II has described how he was "positioning" the late monarch to capture her with a 3D laser scanCommentsNewsMatt Davies Trendswatch Reporter13:05, 18 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesQueen Elizabeth once issued a six-word comeback that offered a glimpse of her character(Image: Stuart C. Wilson, Getty Images)Queen Elizabeth once delivered a hilarious six-word retort that revealed a glimpse of her true personality, an artist has disclosed. Chris Levine, the photographer responsible for some of the most iconic portraits of Queen Elizabeth II, has shared details of how he was "positioning" the late monarch while capturing her with a 3D laser scan.‌Commissioned by Jersey Heritage in 2004, Chris was given the task of producing a portrait to mark Jersey's 800-year allegiance to the Crown. The completed photograph, Equanimity, was later presented to the National Portrait Gallery.‌A second image, the holographic Lightness of Being, was a variation that Chris started using in 2008, and it would become one of the most enduring portraits of Queen Elizabeth, who would have marked her 100th birthday on April 21.‌Sitting for the portraits didn't appear to dampen the late Queen's mood, however.View 3 ImagesLightness of Being was a variation that Chris began using in 2008(Image: PA)In fact, she even offered an amusing six-word response to Chris's assistant, Nina Duncan, after the process was likened to that of a "passport photo". Her comment came to light after Chris shared new images of the Queen with The Mail.‌He said: "When I was positioning the Queen to have her 3D laser scan taken, my assistant, Nina Duncan, said, 'It's a bit like having your passport photo taken, Your Majesty'.""Ma'am replied with a smile, 'One doesn't need a passport photo&#...