34 Facts About Cecil Beaton

Ernest Beaton was an amateur actor and met his wife, Cecil's mother Esther when playing the lead in a play.

Cecil Beaton was the daughter of a Cumbrian blacksmith named Joseph Sisson and had come to London to visit her married sister.

Cecil Beaton was educated at Heath Mount School and St Cyprian's School, Eastbourne, where his artistic talent was quickly recognised.

When Cecil Beaton was growing up, his nanny had a Kodak 3A Camera, a popular model which was renowned for being an ideal piece of equipment to learn on.

Cecil Beaton's nanny began teaching him the basics of photography and developing film.

Cecil Beaton attended Harrow School, and then, despite having little or no interest in academia, moved on to St John's College, Cambridge, and studied history, art and architecture.

Cecil Beaton continued his photography and, through his university contacts, got a portrait depicting the Duchess of Malfi published in Vogue.

From 1930 to 1945, Cecil Beaton leased Ashcombe House in Wiltshire, where he entertained many notable figures.

Cecil Beaton remained at the house until his death in 1980 and is buried in the parish church graveyard.

Cecil Beaton designed book jackets, and costumes for charity matinees, learning the craft of photography at the studio of Paul Tanqueray, until Vogue took him on regularly in 1927.

Cecil Beaton set up his own studio, and one of his earliest clients and, later, best friends was Stephen Tennant.

Cecil Beaton was never known as a highly skilled technical photographer, and instead focused on staging a compelling model or scene and looking for the perfect shutter-release moment.

Cecil Beaton was a photographer for the British edition of Vogue in 1931 when George Hoyningen-Huene, photographer for the French Vogue travelled to England with his new friend Horst.

Cecil Beaton is known for his fashion photographs and society portraits.

Cecil Beaton worked as a staff photographer for Vanity Fair and Vogue in addition to photographing celebrities in Hollywood.

Cecil Beaton returned to England, where the Queen recommended him to the Ministry of Information.

Cecil Beaton became a leading war photographer, best known for his images of the damage done by the German Blitz.

Cecil Beaton's style sharpened and his range broadened, Beaton's career was restored by the war.

Cecil Beaton took the famous wedding pictures of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

Cecil Beaton photographed Princess Margaret in a cream Dior dress for her 21st birthday in 1951, which became one of the most iconic royal portraits of the 20th century.

Cecil Beaton had a major influence on and relationship with Angus McBean and David Bailey.

Bailey's use of square format images is similar to Cecil Beaton's own working patterns.

Cecil Beaton designed the period costumes for the 1970 film On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.

Cecil Beaton designed the sets and costumes for a production of Puccini's last opera Turandot, first used at the Metropolitan Opera in New York and then at Covent Garden.

Cecil Beaton designed the academic dress of the University of East Anglia.

The last public interview given by Sir Cecil Beaton was in January 1980 for an edition of the BBC's radio programme Desert Island Discs.

The Cecil Beaton programme is considered to be almost the final words on an era of "Bright Young Things" whose sunset had taken place by the time of the abdication of Edward VIII.

Cecil Beaton commented specifically on Wallis Simpson.

Cecil Beaton had relationships with various men: his last lover was former Olympic fencer and teacher Kinmont Hoitsma.

Cecil Beaton had relationships with women, including the actresses Greta Garbo and Coral Browne, the dancer Adele Astaire, the Greek socialite Madame Jean Ralli, and the British socialite Doris Castlerosse.

Cecil Beaton was knighted in the 1972 New Year Honours.

Cecil Beaton died on 18 January 1980 at Reddish House, his home in Broad Chalke, Wiltshire, four days after his 76th birthday.

An exhibition celebrating The Queen's Diamond Jubilee and showing portraits of Her Majesty by Cecil Beaton, opened in October 2011 at the Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

In Netflix's 2016 series The Crown, Cecil Beaton was portrayed by Mark Tandy.