Prince William andKate Middleton released new portraits for their 10th anniversary.- Their poses and PDA resemble
Prince Harry andMeghan Markle 's 2017 engagement photos. - William and Kate appear to be emulating Harry and Meghan's informal style to seem more relatable.
Prince William and Kate Middleton marked their 10th wedding anniversary on Thursday by releasing new portraits that show them in a less formal light, resembling Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's intimate engagement photos from 2017.
Taken by celebrity photographer Chris Floyd, the new photos show William and Middleton engaging in rare public displays of affection. Harry and Markle's engagement photos were also taken by a celebrity photographer, Alexi Lubomirski.
In one of the new portraits, which were released on the couple's social media accounts on Wednesday, Middleton sits facing slightly away from William with her elbow resting on his leg and her hand on his.
It's almost exactly how Lubomirski posed Harry and Markle on the steps of Frogmore House in Windsor.
In another portrait taken by Floyd, Middleton leans into William. Their arms are around each other.
Harry and Markle posed in a similar embrace for their engagement photo shoot.
The new portraits are a departure from the anniversary photos the couple has shared in the past
In keeping with royal etiquette, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge rarely show affection in public. In past anniversary photos released by Kensington Palace, they've maintained an air of formality.
In 2016, photographer Paul Ratcliffe received a thank-you card featuring a more conventional photo of the couple for William and Middleton's 5th anniversary.
- Paul Ratcliffe (@pdratcliffe) May 25, 2016
William and Middleton's approach to PDA seemed to undergo a shift when Harry and Markle were still working
As Harry and Markle's informality endeared them to the public, William and Middleton appeared to take a page from their book and increased the amount of affection they showed each other on royal engagements.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge appear to be continuing this trend: In addition to more relaxed anniversary photos, the couple also released a new video of them spending time outdoors with their three children, running through trees and roasting marshmallows.
-The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) April 29, 2021
The shift could be part of an effort to help them appear more relatable in the wake of Harry and Markle's bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey about their rift with Kensington Palace. Or, it could be as simple as the royal couple marking 10 years together by providing an authentic glimpse into their lives when they're off-duty.