Brentwood resident and royal snapper for The Sun, Arthur Edwards, has focused his mind on fighting the flab before he receives his MBE from the Queen.

Arthur, 62, has travelled the word for 25 years photographing the Royal Family but now it is his turn to be in front of the camera with Her Majesty and he is determined to look his best.

Arthur, who has lived in Hanging Hill Lane, Hutton, for 27 years, wants to be a shadow of his former self when the day dawns on his appointment at Buckingham Palace on May 8.

The 17 stone 10lb photographer has vowed to shed at least a stone and is hoping to whittle at least two inches off his 47in waistline.

The Sun's slimming editor has devised a low fat diet of 1,800 calories a day and an exercise programme of "power walking" to help him achieve his goal.

Arthur, who was awarded the MBE in the 2003 New Year's Honour's List in recognition of his dedicated service to the newspaper industry, said: "It will be one of the most important days of my life. After years of covering Royal events, I want this to be special.

For once, I won't be dashing around trying to get good pictures. Instead, I will be the one posing for the cameras. This will be the very first time that I have been photographed with the Queen, so it is doubly important that I look my best."

Published Friday, April 18, 2003

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