In just a few days Prince William and Kate and the couple's two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, will sit down to have their first official photographs taken as a family of four. Newborn baby Charlotte will be christened on Sunday 5 July, and photographer-to-the-stars Mario Testino has been chosen to capture the day.
This is not the first time that Mario, who was awarded an honorary OBE for his talent, has worked with the royal family.
The 60-year-old was the creative mastermind behind William and Kate's engagement photos, taken back in 2010 when the Duchess was still Miss Middleton.
© Photo: RexMario Testino, who has been chosen to photograph Princess Charlotte's christening, also took Prince William and Kate's engagement photos back in 2010. The snaps were later made into stamps
The beautiful photos reflected William and Kate's loving relationship to perfection. Perhaps the most well-remembered picture was of the future King embracing his then-fiancée as they stood in front of a window at the palace's Cornwall Room.
"It was spontaneous emotion," Mario told The Telegraph. "You could see they were completely in love."
A second more formal image showed William and Kate posing in the Council Chamber, with Kate resting her hand, bearing her new diamond sapphire engagement ring, on the Prince's arm.
The Peruvian artist has long worked with the royal family, and captured important events such as Prince William's 21st birthday and Prince Harry's 20th
At the time Mario described the couple as "brimming with happiness" – an emotion clearly captured in his photos. The portraits were later made into commemorative stamps to celebrate the couple's royal wedding in April 2011.
Having photographed William for his 21st birthday – seven years before the Prince proposed – Mario has seen the royal grow up into the caring and responsible man and father that he is today.
"There's a kindness and a gentleness there that instantly wins you over," Mario has previously said of his royal subject, while adding that he was "more like his mother," the late Princess Diana.
His A-lister subjects include Scarlett Johansson (pictured), Madonna and Gisele Bündchen
The photographer, who also took Prince Harry's official portraits for his 20th birthday, reached a high point in his career when he was chosen by Diana to photograph her for her iconic Vanity Fair cover and magazine shoot in 1997.
The relaxed photos of a carefree Diana were taken as she modelled 79 of her favourite dresses - worn during her time as Prince Charles' wife - which were then put up for auction for charity.
Mario went on to become one of the world's most respected fashion photographers, with his A-lister subjects including David and Victoria Beckham, Scarlett Johansson, Emma Watson, Julia Roberts, Kate Winslet, Gisele Bündchen, Madonna and of course, his long-time friend Kate Moss.
Victoria and David Beckham are also big names that feature on Mario Testino's client list
The shutterbug, who created a whole book of portraits of the British supermodel entitled Kate Moss by Mario Testino, met the English beauty at the start of her career after her first Galliano show.
"I went backstage to congratulate her, only to find her crying," recalled Mario. "She was disappointed that she had only been given one outfit to model in the show. My answer to her was this: 'In life there are perfumes and colognes.
"You need to use lots of cologne as the scent fades away; with a perfume you just use a drop and it lasts all night. You are a perfume, you will go on and on.' Little did I know just how true that would become! And that I had made a friend for life."
© Photo: RexKate Moss called on her long-time friend Mario Testino to photograph her wedding day
Kate, naturally, chose the award-winning photographer to capture her big day in 2011, when she sashayed down the aisle to marry rock star Jamie Hince.
Mario's next high-profile job will be photographing Princess Charlotte, who is fourth-in-line to the throne, at her christening on Sunday. Having previously captured other important milestones for the British royal family, fans can only guess that Mario will be called back time and time again for future royal events.
