A CHEF who took the official engagement photograph of the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles was asked to hand over copyright on the picture without being paid, it was claimed yesterday.

Carolyn Robb, one of Britain’s leading organic chefs, took the snapshot of the couple when she was working for the Prince at Birkhall, his Scottish hideaway, in January. She asked why it was being taken and was told the couple wanted a photograph of themselves dressed in their new green tweeds on their way to church.

A few weeks later Ms Robb, a consultant product developer for the Prince’s Duchy Originals food range, claimed she was shocked to see the photograph flashed around the world as an official engagement picture, which also appears on a stamp to commemorate the royal wedding.

She told a Sunday newspaper that the image had been used without her consent and without any fee being agreed. She said that she felt duped, bitterly disappointed and insulted.

When Ms Robb contacted the Prince’s office about financial compensation, officials attempted to force her to waive international copyright, she said. She claimed that she was asked to sign over all rights and to accept that she would not receive any compensation.

Yesterday a spokeswoman for Clarence House insisted that Ms Robb had given permission for the photograph to be distributed free and had also been asked to sign a contract that would assign copyright to the Royal Household.

The contract was optional, she added. “If Ms Robb does not want to sign, then that is fine. Ms Robb has asked us to make it clear that she is now happy with the situation and as far as she is concerned that matter is closed.”

It is understood that Ms Robb has agreed a fee for the photograph, but it is thought to be considerably less than the amount she could have earned if she had sold the image at its market value. One syndication agency estimated that she could have made up to £200,000 from sales in the first six months alone.

Ms Robb, who was unavailable for comment yesterday, was reported to have told the Mail on Sunday that she was hurt and upset by the way she had been treated by palace officials.

“I want to make it clear that I am not upset at Prince Charles or Mrs Parker Bowles. I have known the Prince for many years and I have always had the utmost respect and admiration for him. And I am very fond of Mrs Parker Bowles, who is a wonderful lady. I have always been so loyal to them both. That is why it is so hurtful and upsetting to be treated in this way.

“But the people in Charles’s office have not dealt with this in a decent or professional fashion. It is a classic example of how out of touch they are with reality,” she was quoted as saying. Ms Robb, who was working at Birkhall during the couple’s stay, said that she was asked to take the photograph because she often carried a camera to take pictures of food that she had prepared.

As the copyright owner of what has become a world- famous picture, she could have expected a generous financial settlement. Professional photographers can negotiate deals which mean they are paid every time their picture is used. Ms Robb’s photograph has already been printed by hundreds of publications.

A spokesman for the Royal Mail, which will distribute the 68p stamps bearing Ms Robb’s photograph, said that he was not aware of any legal impediment to the stamps going on sale on April 8. “We acquired the right to these images in good faith,” he said.

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