Photographer Dafydd Jones has shared his memories of capturing one of the most celebrated royal occasions of the 1980s.
The 46-year-old recalled taking photographs that featured in Elton John: Icon, a visual anthology from ACC Art Books showcasing the legendary musician’s career through the work of 19 distinguished photographers.
Mr Jones reflected on his experience documenting the March 1986 nuptials of the former Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson while still establishing himself in the profession.
“To photograph the royal wedding, I had to arrive very early in the morning to keep my spot outside Westminster Abbey,” he told People.
Another individual claiming to be a photographer had already secured a position before Mr Jones arrived.
“He had press credentials. He also had his own bivouac to sleep in and a very basic camera. He was clearly military, and I realised he was there as some kind of additional security,” he explained.
The photographer’s determination paid off as he maintained his vantage point throughout the day.
The atmosphere outside the Abbey proved electric, with spectators greeting each arrival with enthusiasm.
Photographer Dafydd Jones (left) has shared his memories of capturing one of the most celebrated royal occasions of the 1980s in his new publication
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson married in 1986
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“There was a crowd outside who cheered at every guest as they arrived,” Mr Jones noted. “The whole of London seemed to have the day off.”
His persistence enabled him to photograph Elton John, who attended the ceremony alongside his then-wife Renate Blauel.
The couple’s marriage lasted from 1984 until 1988.
The singer subsequently met David Furnish in 1993, and the pair entered into a civil partnership in December 2005.
Elton John attended the ceremony alongside his then-wife Renate Blauel
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Nine years later, following the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Britain, they formally wed.
The couple are parents to two sons, Zachary, now 15, and Elijah, aged 12.
Following the Abbey ceremony, Mr Jones continued his work at various celebrations throughout the capital.
“I went on from there to photograph a party that Sarah Ferguson’s friends had in South Kensington,” he recounted.
The bride’s circle included some friends deemed too unconventional for the Palace reception, he added, while Lady Liz Anson hosted an evening gathering for the Queen at Claridge’s.
Queen Elizabeth bestowed the titles of Duke and Duchess of York upon the couple on the day, though their marriage ultimately ended in divorce in May 1996, a decade after the Westminster Abbey ceremony.
The former Duke and Duchess last appeared alongside the Royal Family at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral on 16 September 2025.
Mr Jones previously recalled his experience at the funeral of Diana, Princes of Wales, describing it as “shocking” to see Prince William and his brother Harry walking behind their mother’s coffin.