Skip to main content

Prince William, Kate Middleton Release Official Engagement Portraits

They're ready to wed!

Prince William and Kate Middleton released a set of official engagement portraits Saturday, shot by famed fashion photographer Mario Testino.
"I am very happy to have been asked to cover this historic moment that the whole world was waiting for. They are in their prime and brimming with happiness," says Testino, the same photographer who took iconic pictures of Princess Diana shortly before her 1997 death. "I have never felt so much joy as when I see them together."
PHOTOS: William and Kate's royal romance
In the couple's official portraits taken Nov. 25 in St. James's Palace, London, Kate -- who will now be known as Catherine -- puts her 18-carat sparkler on display. The platinum ring, which features an oval blue sapphire surrounded by 14 smaller white diamonds, is the same engagement ring that belonged to William's late mother.
PHOTOS: Stars' blingy engagement rings
Those close to Middleton say the bride-to-be has taken a special interest in her appearance since she began dating the heir to the British throne eight years ago.
"Kate is always perfectly manicured, and she will have blow-dries before she goes out," says Katie Nicholl, royal watcher and author of William and Harry: Behind the Palace Walls. She adds that Middleton and William likely got their teeth whitened in advance of their Nov. 16 engagement announcement.
PHOTOS: How Kate's style has evolved over the years
The pair's April 29, 2011 nuptials should be the biggest royal event since Prince Charles married Diana in 1981.
Prince William and his commoner girlfriend, both 28, made a secret pact to marry three years ago while on vacation in the Seychelles. "Kate wanted assurances from William," Nicholl explains. "William told Kate she was The One, but he was not ready to get married. She...agreed to wait for him."
Another insider tells Us: "He wants to spend the rest of his life with her."
For much more on the royal engagement -- potential party venues, how Prince William is "determined" not to isolate his bride, Queen Elizabeth's tutelage, and more -- pick up the latest Us Weekly, on stands today!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

New Dishes for this Week

MONDAY Stroganoff-Style Beef with Broccoli TUESDAY Chicken Alfredo and Rice Casserole WEDNESDAY Slow-Cooker Flemish Beef Stew THURSDAY Vegetarian Chili FRIDAY Slow-Cooked Chicken with Sourdough-Mushroom Stuffing SATURDAY Easy Marinated Pork Tenderloin SUNDAY Lamb Chops with Red Onion, Grape Tomatoes, and Feta (...AND sign up for Yahoo! Shine's weekly recipe newsletter) MONDAY Stroganoff-Style Beef with Broccoli Provided by Better Homes and Gardens For more stroganoff recipes, try these delicious dishes. Here is a dinner idea that can be ready in 30 minutes. If you are a fan of beef and broccoli, this is a recipe you must try. Serve it on top of cooked wide noodles and enjoy. Share this recipe with friends who also have busy schedules and are looking for a quick and delicious main dish...

Blake Griffin with his head at the rim

After knocking himself out of the 2009-10 season after hurting his knee during a dunk attempt, it's still OK to cringe a bit every time you see Blake Griffin (notes) readying a launch. And apparently, now we have to worry about his head knocking the rim just as much as his knees handling the descent. It speaks to the level of credibility that the Dunk Contest owns these days that when word hit Wednesday that Blake Griffin was open to the idea of entering the NBA's annual stuffing show, we were actually more concerned than excited. Would Griffin, clearly the master of the in-game dunk just two months into his NBA career, be able to in any way match his prowess in an exhibition setting? Was there a risk of him needlessly hurting himself in the process? About 11 minutes into Wednesday's Rockets/Clippers matchup, the worries became outright fears. Because Blake went and did this. That's a 6-9 guy jumping off a surgically repaired kneecap with his head at th...

It’s official: Verizon gets the iPhone

Well, that's that. After more than three years of rumors, speculation, and plain old wishful thinking, Verizon Wireless finally announced Tuesday that it will soon be offering its own version of the iPhone, bringing AT&T's long monopoly on the wildly popular handset to an end. The long-expected news came at a packed press conference at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, just a couple of days after the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas wrapped up. Verizon's jubilant CEO, Lowell McAdam, was joined onstage by Apple COO Tim Cook (no sign of Steve Jobs, by the way) and Verizon Wireless CEO Dan Meade. McAdam confirmed that discussions to bring the iPhone to Verizon began as early as 2008. The iPhone 4 will become available for pre-order for existing Verizon subscribers on February 3, with general availability to begin on February 10. The 16GB version of the iPhone will sell for $199, with the 32GB to cost $299—both with a two-year contract. Details...