英伦广角 2010-12-26 威廉王子与未婚妻订婚照曝光（在线收听）

The two sides of the future King and Queen engaged to be married. The first, a more official formal pose, the second, an informal loving embrace. Their differences are striking as the sentiments that unify them-happiness and excitement about a future together.

The work of celebrity photographer, Mario Testino, both portraits were taken at St. James Palace. The formal in the Council Chamber against a backdrop of formal Kings and Queens, a half-embrace sees the prince’s fiancée rest her hand on her husband-to-be’s arm, showing off her engagement ring that once belonged to William’s mother-Diana.

The sapphire surrounded by diamonds is given maximum exposure in the informal shot, too. This time taken in the Palace’s sun-lit Cornwall room, clearly at ease, heads touching, a casually dressed prince William envelops Catherine in his arms while her hand rests on his chest, a photo which will become one of the iconic images of the 21st century.

The photo shoot took place just days after the couple announced their engagement. Testino, a favorite with the royal family sent his selection to Clarence House from which they chose two.

“What we got is a couple that is fantastically in love, I mean I’ve never seen really such intimate pictures, I mean…”, ‘Very relaxed’ ‘Very relaxed which is what Mario Testino is good at’.

Royal writer and photographer, Ian Lloyd believes the couple chose Mario Testino because of his ability to make his subjects come alive as he did with Diana, Princess of Wales.

‘Prince William really, was greatly fond of the portraits that Testino did of Diana, which will recently (be) in an exhibition in Kensington Palace. I mean they caught Diana’s exuberance, they caught her * , her warmth, and she is clearly relaxed and happy with Testino. I think that is why he was chosen there, and Testino mentions the happiness, the brimming with happiness here.’

Just this dress and all those similar were sold out within days of their announcement, don’t expect anything different from Kate’s latest high street white choices from Reiss and Whistles, but the white item everyone really wants to know about is the one shall be wearing on April, the 29th.

Paul Harrison, Sky News.