Ambrose Gauntlett’s role at the Coronation of the Queen in 1953 was entirely above board and a source of great pride: he was a member of the orchestra specially assembled for the ceremony at Westminster Abbey. But he also performed another, clandestine deed that day that he never discussed with anyone but his family.

The cellist had drilled a hole in his instrument case, inside which he had concealed a camera with a secret trigger mechanism. Defying the ban on unofficial photography, he took two snaps of the new Queen while pretending to change his bow.

One of the photographs, which he had displayed at his home as a memento of the historic occasion, was sold at auction yesterday. It was described as one of the first paparazzi shots.

The photograph was among the possessions left after his death in 1978. They included his autograph book containing the signatures of many of the 20th century’s greatest composers. On the back of the black and white photograph, Gauntlett had written: “This was taken by me using a camera inside my cello case.”

The photograph was sold yesterday for £180. Also in the auction catalogue was the collection of 90 autographs, including those of Elgar, Prokofiev and Stravinksy.

Christopher Proudlove, of the auctioneers Rogers-Jones of Colwyn Bay, North Wales, said: “He obviously knew what he was doing as many a press photographer would be proud of the picture. Mr Gauntlett was clearly perched up quite high, ideally situated for the photograph. In essence it is a very clever and historic photograph – you could say one of the first paparazzi shots ever taken. But he didn’t sell it or show it to anyone, apart from members of his family. It was a treasured memento of an historic day.”

Mr Gauntlett’s grandson, David Lea-Wilson, said that the story of the secret snap was a family legend. “I remember as a child it was framed on the wall – he was very proud of it,” he said. “Security was not as tight as it is today and he smuggled the rather large camera inside a light cello case. During the performance he pretended he needed to change his bow, and that was when he took his chance.

“He held up the cello case. The lens would have been poking out of the hole and it would only have taken a second to press the shutter button.”

The family is keeping the second photograph. Mr Lea-Wilson, 52, said: “They are a fraction of a second apart. He developed it himself and until now the picture has never been seen outside of our family.”

Included in the lot were the cellist’s entry ticket for Westminster Abbey, his music and his rehearsal notes.

Gauntlett, who was born in 1889, began his career in 1913 with the London Chamber Orchestra, before becoming principal cellist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra in the 1930s. He later became a professor at the Royal Academy of Music. He collected the autographs of all the musical figures he encountered in his career. They included Richard Strauss, Yehudi Menuhin, William Walton, and Henry Wood, founder of the BBC Proms.

Also in the collection was a programme for a memorial concert in 1912 for the eight members of the band on the Titanic.

Mr Proudlove said: “It is a unique collection. Mr Gauntlett had access to some of the greatest names in 20th-century music. But his photograph was the most talked about item – I wonder what the Queen will make of it.”

The autographs failed to meet reserve, but a copy of the programme for the 1912 concert fetched £100.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Science News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• TV bidding war starts over Olympics
• Sofas were larger than life in TV adverts
• Driver pays fine with wheelbarrow of pennies