Capturing the moment
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle strike an affectionate pose in one of their official engagement photographs released yesterday. The set of three images were taken at Frogmore House, Windsor, by Alexi Lubomirski, a high-fashion photographer.
FEATURING an intimate embrace, a gown worth tens of thousands of pounds, and taken by a celebrity photographer, it is a far cry from the traditional royal portraits of decades gone by. But then no one could ever accuse Prince Harry and Meghan Markle of playing it safe.
The couple, who will marry in May, have brought a sprinkle of Hollywood glamour to Windsor, in a series of romantic engagement images which capture them in one another’s arms.
Official shots, released by Prince Harry and his fiancée yesterday, show them wrapped up closely, nose to nose with their eyes closed in apparently blissful love, and strolling playfully through a garden hand in hand.
One image, which sees them sitting on the outdoor steps of Frogmore House, sees Ms Markle wearing a daring partially sheer couture gown originally worth a reported £56,000.
The pictures, taken by high-fashion photographer Alexi Lubomirski this week, officially commemorate the engagement of the couple, who will marry at Windsor Castle on May 19.
Lubomirski said: “It was an incredible honour to be asked to document this wonderful event, but also a great privilege to be invited to share and be a witness to this young couple’s love for one another.
“I cannot help but smile when I look at the photos that we took of them, such was their happiness together.”
The striking images show Ms Markle wearing a dress by Ralph and Russo, with a partially sheer top and delicate embroidered feathers.
Dresses from the couture collection are said to cost between £25,000 and £500,000, though neither Kensington Palace or Ralph and Russo would be drawn on the price tag of Ms Markle’s gown.
A spokesman for Ralph and Russo said only that it had been bought “privately”.
With discretion that may make them a firm favourite to design Ms Markle’s wedding dress, the spokesman said the firm “will politely be declining to comment” on their notable customer or her purchase.
From the designer’s autumn/winter collection of 2016/17, it is described as a “black tulle gown with silk organza skirt, hand appliquéd with silk tulle ruffles and embroidered with gold feather thread-work”.
A second outfit saw Ms Markle wear another British brand: a cream-coloured jumper from Victoria Beckham, who is said to have become a friend since Ms Markle’s move to the UK, while the Prince wore a Burberry coat.
The dramatic gown showcased in two of the images is a contrast to the simple cream Reiss dress chosen by Catherine Middleton for her 2010 engagement shots, estimated to cost around £170.
The photographs, which showcase an engagement ring made from a Botswana diamond and two stones from the collection of Diana, Princess of Wales, are the latest in a handful of images of the Prince and Ms Markle together.
They follow an appearance at Kensington Palace immediately after their engagement, an affectionate television interview, a walkabout in Nottingham and shots of them attending the Queen’s Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace this week.
They will step out once again on Christmas Day at Sandringham, joining senior members of the Royal family, in- cluding the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, for the annual church service.
Ms Markle is no stranger to the camera, appearing in magazines around the world in her former life as an actress and on the cover of Vanity Fair since her relationship with the Prince came to light.
The three photographs, all taken in the grounds of Frogmore House, are a distinct departure from formal royal portraits, going further than even Prince William and Kate Middleton’s hug for Mario Testino’s photographs in 2010.
As befits the thoroughly modern relationship enjoyed by the Prince and his American fiancée, the third and final image, which shows the couple walking in the garden, was first released on Instagram after the initial two pictures were praised by admirers.
A spokesman for Kensington Palace said yesterday afternoon: “Thank you so much for all of the wonderful comments following the release of Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle’s engagement photographs.
“The couple are so grateful for the warm and generous messages they have received during such a happy time in their lives.
“As a way to say thank you, they have decided to share this candid photograph from the day of their portrait sittings directly with all of you.”