- A new royal portrait taken the night 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.
- Upon closer inspection, both royal couples also reveal subtle public displays of love.
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A newly released royal portrait of King Charles with Camilla, the queen consort, alongside Prince William and Kate Middleton shows both couples engaging in subtle public displays of affection (PDA).
The photo, taken by longtime royal photographer Chris Jackson, shows Charles alongside his eldest son and their wives and was shared by the royal family’s official Instagram account on Saturday.
The picture was taken on September 18, the night before Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral, according to a Buckingham Palace press release shared by Tatler.
According to the press release, the portrait was taken before a reception Charles and Camilla hosted for heads of state and overseas official guests at Buckingham Palace. Those invited included US President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Royals’ PDAs aren’t officially restricted, but it’s rare for them to engage in tactile moments with significant others. Instead, most adhere to an unwritten rule and prefer to keep a healthy distance when dealing with official matters.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, who were married for 73 years, were known to follow the no-PDA rule and were rarely seen holding hands.
But upon closer inspection of the new portrait, there are signs that both couples are actually getting involved with a PDA. Charles’ right arm is wrapped under Camilla’s left arm and appears to be resting on her back.
Similarly, Kate’s right arm appears to be gently tucked behind William’s back as he clasps his hands together.
All four royals, previously dubbed the new “Fab Four,” smile for the camera. They also adhere to each morning’s dress code – Camilla and Kate opted for long-sleeved black mourning dresses. Meanwhile, Charles and William coordinated in navy suits and black ties.
Another subtle element of the new portrait is that it actually shows three people who have held the title of Prince of Wales.
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, several royals in the line of succession had title changes.
Charles automatically became king. His title of Prince of Wales, which he had held since he was nine, was bestowed upon William. But as the Daily Mirror reports, the royals are standing in front of a painting of King George IV, who inherited the title of Prince of Wales in 1762.