Michael Middleton follows a long line of photographers to have captured important images of members of the royal family.

Little is known about how much experience the British Airways flight dispatcher-turned-businessman has behind the lens, but as the first official photographs to be taken of the future king, the pictures are sure to have their place in history.

The intimate family portraits were taken in the garden of the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, earlier this month and for Mr Middleton, they are not only of a future monarch but of his first grandchild.

Martin Keene, head of pictures at the Press Association, said the photographs were impressive. “Any photographer would have been pleased to have taken them,” he said.

The relaxed images of the smiling couple evoke memories of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s official engagement photos, shot by celebrated fashion photographer Mario Testino.

The Peruvian, who created some of the most enduring images of William’s late mother, also took two pictures – one formal and the other more casual – of the couple at St James’s Palace, shortly after their engagement was officially announced in November 2010.

Testino had worked with William on many occasions in the past.

He marked his 21st birthday in 2003 while he also captured Prince Harry’s 20th birthday image in 2004, which showed the royal brothers joking with their father.

The Prince of Wales was also photographed by Testino in 2001 and again five years later to mark his first wedding anniversary to the Duchess of Cornwall.

Other notable photographers of the most famous family in the world include Lord Snowdon, who was a member of the royal family by marriage.

The ex-husband of the late Princess Margaret, he took the official photograph of the Queen – his former sister-in-law – to mark her 80th birthday in 2006.

Snowdon, who has also taken memorable images of the Queen Mother, Charles, William, Harry and Diana, Princess of Wales, got his first commission to photograph the royal family back in the 1950s.

Lord Lichfield, who died in 2005, was another celebrated society photographer who became known for his royal images.

Lord Lichfield, who used the name Patrick Lichfield professionally and was a first cousin once-removed of the Queen, was famous for chronicling the swinging 1960s but was often called upon by the royal family to record important family occasions.

Among the many portraits of the royal family he took, were the official photographs of Charles and Diana’s wedding in 1981.