- A new royal portrait taken the day before the Queen’s funeral on September 19 has been released.
- It shows King Charles, Camilla, Prince William and Kate Middleton forming a united front.
- On closer inspection, the two royal couples also engage in subtle public displays of affection.
A recently released royal portrait of King Charles with Camilla, the Queen Consort, alongside Prince William and Kate Middleton shows the two couples engaged in subtle public displays of affection (PDA).
The photograph, taken by longtime royal photographer Chris Jackson, depicts Charles with his eldest son and their wives, and was shared by the royal family’s official Instagram account on Saturday.
The image was taken on September 18, the day before Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral, according to a press release from Buckingham Palace shared by Tatler.
According to the statement, the portrait was taken ahead of a reception hosted by Charles and Camilla for heads of state and foreign official guests at Buckingham Palace. Guests included US President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The royals’ PDAs aren’t officially restricted, but it’s rare to see them engaging in tactile moments with other important people. Instead, most stick to an unwritten rule, preferring to maintain a healthy distance on official business.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, who have been married for 73 years, followed the no-PDA rule and were rarely seen holding hands.
But taking a closer look at the new portrait, there are signs that the two couples are actually engaging in PDA. Charles’ right arm is wrapped under Camilla’s left arm and appears to be resting on her back.
Likewise, Kate’s right arm appears to be delicately placed behind William’s back, as he clasps his hands together.
The four royals, who have previously been dubbed the new ‘fab four’, are seen smiling for the camera. They also each adhere to the morning dress code – Camilla and Kate opted to wear long-sleeved black mourning dresses. Meanwhile, Charles and William coordinated in dark navy suits and black ties.
Another understated element of the new portrait is that it actually features three people who have held the title of Prince of Wales.
After the death of Queen Elizabeth II, several members of the royal family in the succession changed titles.
Charles automatically became king. His title of Prince of Wales, which he had held since the age of nine, was given to William. But as the Daily Mirror reports, the royal family stand before a painting of King George IV, who inherited the title Prince of Wales in 1762.