The life-changing snap

It is the picture every photographer wanted to get.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and his fiancée Meghan Markle were snapped beaming as they walked to St Mary Magdalene Church, on the Sandringham estate, for the Christmas Day service yesterday.

This candid photo of the royal 'fab four' has been shared thousands of times on social media and has appeared on websites and in newspapers around the world this morning. 

But the image was not taken by a professional photographer. Instead it is the work of single mother Karen Anvil, 39, from Watlington, Norfolk, who was among the dozens of well-wishers who gathered to catch a glimpse of the royals yesterday morning.  

Ms Anvil described how she was able to grab the royals' attention by screaming like a 'fan-girl' and is now hoping the money she makes from it will help pay for 17-year-old daughter Rachel's university fees.  

Speaking to the BBC, she said: 'I'm just very bubbly by nature and I was with my daughter and I got a bit excitable, I suppose.

'I was just sort of shouting and I just went "Merry Christmas!" like an idiot. I was fan-girling. That's all I said and got them to look.'

Ms Anvil and Rachel were among the supporters who braved the chilly temperatures to catch a glimpse of the senior royals on their way to church yesterday. 

The crowds are permitted to line the route while professional photographers are restricted in where they can go, giving Ms Anvil her excellent vantage point. 

She  shared the image on Twitter yesterday morning and was shocked when it quickly swept the web.  

 Ms Anvil explained that at first she allowed people to use the image for free before realising there was the potential to earn some money.

Followers and other Twitter users started commenting on the picture, telling Ms Anvil she could charge for its use. 

Ms Anvil said she will put any money she earns towards paying for Rachel's education. 

She added: 'The thing is - and I hate to play the single mum card - I'm a single parent, I work two jobs, which I'm proud of and I've always worked.

'Now I want to save money for my daughter for uni and if I can do that, and can get that opportunity that's amazing.'

Meghan was elegant in a wide collar, camel wrap coat by Canadian luxury brand Sentaler as she made her appearance with the Royal Family on Christmas Day.

This article was first published on dailymail.co.uk and is reproduced here with permission.