There is pretty much only one word for the engagement photographs of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: adorable.
Or, allowing ourselves three words: pretty darn adorable.
The pictures were released the day after Markle attended the queen’s Christmas lunch, and just a few days before she joins the royals at church on Christmas morning. Operation Make the World Love Markle is a not only a 100 percent positive slam-dunk, it’s also proceeding at a brisk pace.
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The photographs were taken by Alexi Lubomirski. And they, appropriately given Markle’s acting background, are sexy, starry, stagey, and intimate.
Lubomirski, a prince of the Polish House of Lubomirski, is also the former assistant of Mario Testino, who photographed Princess Diana at her most fabulous and unguarded; and who also took one of the best shots of William and Kate when they announced their engagement in 2010.
The couple, more formal by inclination and necessity (William is second in line to the throne), were captured by Testino holding each other tightly, and laughing in one photograph. Lubomirski has clearly imbibed his one-time boss’ talent for making his subjects feel at ease.
The main color portrait sees the couple sitting with Markle leaning into the prince; she’s wearing a lovely Ralph & Russo gown from their autumn/winter ’16 couture runway collection, which basically keys into every Princess Diaries fantasy you ever had: that beautiful royals really do shrug on couture and pose regally outside.
In a more intimate black-and-white shot, Markle is wearing a white Victoria Beckham sweater, and she and Harry are pictured with faces nestling to each other, her hand cradling his chin.
The shoot took place at Frogmore House in Windsor, and in the final shot, it’s back to the Ralph & Russo gown (her) and beautifully fitted suit (him) for a walk beside a lake.
This final picture, Kensington Palace said in a statement, was intended as a “thank you” to the public.
“The couple are so grateful for the warm and generous messages they have received during such a happy time in their lives,” the statement read. “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.”
The couple will wed at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, next year on May 19.
Lubomirski said: “It was an incredible honor 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.”
They certainly look like they’re having a blast. They also look like they would be a blast to be around.
The key linking factor between the photographs: Markle’s engagement ring is the very visible third star in all the pictures. Another key linking factor: sheer, sweet, very visible in-love joy.
