Photographer John Jochimsen became part of a moment in history as one of the first people to see Elizabeth II as Queen.

The Press snapper stood outside the Treetops Hotel in Kenya 50 years ago and waited as the young princess learned her father, King George VI, was dead and she had become the monarch.

However, ignoring his photographer's instincts, Mr Jochimsen, then only 22, stood and watched respectfully as the grieving Queen left for the airport and her new life as head of state.

He was on a six-month assignment as chief photographer for the Central Office of Information, working for the Colonial Office in Africa, when he was caught up in one of the biggest stories of a generation.

He had already recorded the young Princess Elizabeth arriving at the airport in Kenya, snapping her again as she carried out a variety of public duties in Nairobi.

When the royal party arrived for their ill-fated stay at Treetops, the Press corps, including Mr Jochimsen, moved to a hotel nearby.

Now 72, retired and living in Robin Close, Southwater, he said: "On February 6, I was walking around when the message came that the King had died. I took the message and passed it on to the BBC chaps and I believe they informed the Duke of Edinburgh who said to keep quiet about it until it was confirmed.

"By that time the bloke from Reuters had got the confirmation. I think the Governor's office had not been able to get through to the royal party.

"Myself and another photographer got in a taxi and rushed out to the royal lodge but we were asked not to take any photos out of respect for the Queen's privacy.

"In those days you did as you were told so we just stood there and watched them go past.

"I believe that, apart from members of the Royal Household, we were the first to see her as Queen.

"As a photographer, it was very frustrating because all we were going to do was take pictures of the two Rolls-Royces going away with the dust coming up. That was all we would have been able to get.

"But instead we just stood there like a couple of lemons."

Mr Jochimsen, whose career took him all over the world and included stints on Fleet Street and in industry, is proud he and his colleague kept to an unwritten code of conduct and resisted the temptation to snap the new Queen.

He is aware, nowadays, the paparazzi would not be so quick to put down their cameras.

He said: "We didn't have any paparazzi in those days. We all knew each other and if someone crossed the line he wouldn't get away with it.

"I think it's ridiculous the way they behave nowadays. They go out with their digital cameras and just pop away in the hope one of the pictures will turn out fine.

"We used to go out with just two plates and the editor would want to know why if you used more than one. It really taught you what made a good picture."

Barbara Davidson barbara.davidson @theargus.co.uk