Palace: Royal engagement shots retouched, a bit
December 14, 2010 | 7:26pm
LONDON — They're young and glowing with love, but even Prince William and his fiancee Kate Middleton got a helping hand from technology for their engagement photos.
William's office says the couple's two official portraits underwent "minimal" retouching before they were released.
The palace said Tuesday that the couple's appearance was not altered, but adjustments made were to light balance and contrast because "the final portraits are works of art," like the painted portraits made of previous royal generations.
The two portraits by fashion photographer Mario Testino show the couple looking relaxed and happy. They were taken at St. James's Palace last month, shortly after the couple announced their engagement.
One shows the couple, dressed in jeans and casual tops, smiling in each others' arms. The other, more formal, depicts them standing together in a state room
Testino said the couple appeared "in their prime and brimming with happiness" when he photographed them on Nov. 25.
William and Middleton, both 28, will wed April 29 at Westminster Abbey.
Testino is a royal family favorite who captured some of the most iconic images of William's late mother, Princess Diana.
The Peruvian photographer, who made his name shooting models like Kate Moss, took a series of glamorous black-and-white images of Diana that were published in Vanity Fair in 1997, shortly before her death in a Paris car crash.
Testino could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday.
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