A Norfolk mum said she was amazed at how a picture of the Royals she snapped on her mobile phone sparked a media frenzy.

Eastern Daily Press: Rachel Murdoch and her mother Karen, whose Royal picture made the news worldwide. Picture: Chris BishopRachel Murdoch and her mother Karen, whose Royal picture made the news worldwide. Picture: Chris Bishop (Image: Archant)

Karen Murdoch from Watlington, near King's Lynn, took a picture of Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and his fiancée Megan Markle, as they walked to the Christmas Day service at Sandringham Church.

Within hours, the image of the two smiling couples had attracted thousands of likes and retweets online.

Ms Murdoch, 39, then took the advice of other social media users and enlisted an agent to negotiate usage fees from the world's media.

The single mum now hopes money she makes from sales of the picture will help towards her 17-year-old daughter Rachel's £27,000 university fees for a nursing degree.

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'It's totally mad, it's just been insane,' she said. 'Rachel wants to go to work for the NHS in some capacity. I want to save money for my daughter for uni and if I can get that opportunity that's amazing.'

The picture of the two couples made the front pages of most national newspapers - despite the fact some of the country's top Royal photographers were a few yards up the path in a media pen.

Ms Murdoch, who works at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital as a learning and development co-ordinator, describes herself as a Royal geek. She said the picture taken on the path leading to church was 'pure luck'.

'I was there with my daughter and my friend who works with me at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,' she said. 'I was just enjoying the moment and screaming a bit.

'I'm just someone who takes photos on their iPhone, I'm not a photographer by any means.

I don't know how much I'm expecting to get. It's all going to go to my daughter and her education. She does me proud and that's what as mum does isn't it.'

Rachel Murdoch, who hopes to join her mother working at the QEH, added: 'This is bizarre. Nothing like this ever happens to us.'

Celebrity photo agent Ken Goff, who is handling sales of the image, said he expected it to earn 'thousands'.

'It was the best picture on the day,' he said. 'You've got the two principals, Catherine and Meghan, bang in the middle of the frame. It's the perfect picture.'