Royal Photographer Anwar Hussein Dies at 85, Family Says (Exclusive)

Anwar Hussein, a pioneering photographer renowned for his iconic images of the British royal family, has died at age 85. His family shares with PEOPLE the profound legacy he leaves behind.

“Our family is completely heartbroken as we come to terms with Anwar’s passing,” the Hussein family said in a statement shared exclusively with PEOPLE on Oct. 8. “We are however grateful that he lived a full and amazing life, always on his own terms.”

“His photographic career took him beyond his wildest dreams, from his early days growing up in Tanzania to capturing the world of royalty, rock and cinema,” the statement continued. “We are all so proud of his incredible body of iconic work. We take great comfort in the knowledge that his images will be enjoyed by generations to come.”

According to The Times in the U.K., Anwar died of cancer on Sept. 23. 

Anwar was born in Chunya, Tanganyika, then a British colony and now known as Tanzania, in 1938. He went on to become “the longest-serving photographer on the royal roster, taking photos of the family for more than 50 years” and is credited with helping to create a more informal style of royal photos, according to his obituary in The Times.

He is survived by his wife Caroline and their two sons, Zak and Samir, who followed in his footsteps as photographers capturing the next generation of British royals. 

“He came from a background of photographing showbiz people and a more relaxed style,” Samir told the outlet about the impact his father’s work had. “He really wanted to bring that style into photographing the royals… more of a rock’n’roll style. It made them more human and people saw them as more relatable.” 

Anwar was there for the future King Charles’ global travels as a bachelor and Princess Diana’s foray onto the world stage, from the early days of her royal romance to the confident icon she blossomed into before her tragic death in 1997 at age 36.

“She started the interest in the modern royal family,” Anwar previously told PEOPLE about the late Princess of Wales.

The photographer captured many of Princess Diana’s most enduring moments, from her hands-on manner with those in need to her solo photo at the Taj Mahal in 1992 as her marriage with then-Prince Charles broke down and iconic fashion statements like her “revenge dress” two years later and much more. 

“The story of Diana unfolded in front of us,” Anwar previously told PEOPLE. “You could see her go from Shy Di, looking down, to becoming stronger—which she had to do. She wanted to prove she was brave enough to do what she wanted.”

One hundred and forty of Anwar’s images of the late princess were displayed in the special exhibit, Princess Diana: Accredited Access Exhibition, which kicked off in three American cities in 2023 and was shown in London earlier this year.

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“It really means a lot to all of the family to have our pictures on show in a city that was Diana’s home,” Zak previously told PEOPLE.

“Whilst this exhibition celebrates the life of Diana through so many iconic pictures taken by my dad, I’m exciting to have the opportunity to showcase some of my favourite images of William and Kate, Harry and Meghan which adds another dimension to the experience,” he said.