Mario Testino has been ruled out as the official photographer for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after being accused of sexually exploiting models and assistants. Testino had been the front-runner to take the wedding portraits, according to fashion industry insiders, but has now been discounted.
The 63-year-old had become the Royal family’s preferred photographer, having taken the last official portraits of Diana, Princess of Wales, before her death in 1997. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose Testino to capture their engagement in 2010 and picked him as the photographer for Princess Charlotte’s christening in 2015.
A fashion industry source said: “There is no doubt Testino was the front-runner to do Harry and Meghan’s wedding. They didn’t use him for their engagement photos but by then rumours were already circulating about Mario. He won’t be used now.”
Kensington Palace declined to comment.
“It is not something we are commenting on at this stage,” said a spokesman for Harry and Markle. “We have not provided any further details on who will be photographing the wedding.”
The couple are due to get married in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on May 19. According to The New York Times, 13 male models and assistants have claimed they were subjected to Testino’s advances and were threatened that, if they didn’t acquiesce, their careers would be in jeopardy.
Testino, who has a home in London, has vehemently denied the allegations. A law firm representing him challenged the credibility of the complainants and said it had spoken to several former employees who were “shocked by the allegations” and “could not confirm any of the claims”.
The lawyers said the alleged victims “cannot be considered reliable sources” and told The New York Times it “would be extremely reckless” to rely on one source whose mental health they called into question.
Harry’s biographer said that Testino was a favourite photographer of his. Testino, who was born in Peru, was given an honorary OBE in 2014 for his services to photography and charity.
Angela Levin, an author who spent a year on and off with the prince and saw a book of Testino portraits at his home, said: “Harry has liked him a great deal and is very sentimental about him. He took the last official portraits of his mother before she died. Testino would have been an obvious candidate to do the wedding photographs. They will stay well clear now these accusations have been made.”
The allegations against Testino date back to the mid-90s and include groping and sex acts, according to The New York Times.
