Deja vu?
It's official: Engagement photos show Prince William is far outclassed by hisfiancee
It may be deja vu all over again.
Official engagement photos of the world's most famous couple — Prince William and Kate Middleton — were released Sunday and one look at them indicates that just as William's mother, Princess Diana, upstaged his father, Prince Charles, from the beginning, Middleton promises to do the same with her fiance.
Middleton, who seems incapable of taking a bad photo, manages to look both glamorous and down-to-earth in the photos taken by Mario Testino. She has a natural presence in front of the camera that can't be taught. Middleton reportedly did her own makeup for the photo shoot at St. James Palace, with Testino's artist on hand for touchups.
William, by comparison, appears outclassed by his bride-to-be. He looks stiff in the more formal of the two photos, although he loosens up in the more casual photo. Instead of emanating a royal aura, he resembles the dorky guy who is ecstatic at landing the beautiful girl.
One good sign: The couple, both 28, look naturally overjoyed in their photos — much moreso that Diana and Charles did in their official photos — so there may be hope for a fairy tale ending.
Testino was a favorite photographer of Diana's and remained the go-to-guy for the younger royals. He took official photos of William for his 21st birthday and Prince Harry for his 20th birthday. He also has photographed Charles for Vogue magazine.
"They are in their prime and brimming with happiness," Testino said of the future King of England and his bride-to-be. "I have never felt so much joy as when I see them together."
For the more formal of the two photos released, Middleton posed in a white Reiss dress and Links earrings. William wore a gray suit, white shirt and dark blue tie.
In the more casual photo of the couple embracing, both wore jeans. Middleton wore a cream-colored blouse from Whistles, a mid-priced British chain, while William wore a brown sweater over a white shirt from traditional British tailors Turnbull and Asser. Middleton prominently displayed Diana's famous sapphire ring in the photo.