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Kate Middleton and Prince William’s royal wedding photo to mark their 13th anniversary isn’t so new after all. On Monday, April 29, the Prince and Princess of Wales released a “never-before-seen” black-and-white portrait taken at their 2011 wedding by photographer Millie Pilkington. While many fans showered them with well-wishes to celebrate the royals’ 13 years in marital bliss with their three beautiful children, others did not hesitate to point out everything wrong with the anniversary picture.
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Anniversary Photo Sparks Concern
Many royal fans’ reaction to the anniversary photo expressed disappointment that the palace, again, failed to release a recent photo of Kate. This move, on an occasion such as her wedding anniversary, revived concerns about the Princess’ health. Meanwhile, many condemned the royals’ decision to share a black-and-white portrait in such a situation, admitting it left them fearing the worst at first glance. One fan quipped,
“Why would you choose to post a b/w photo? My heart really stopped for a second. Happy anniversary! Here’s to a happy marriage and many more years to come.”
Another wrote,
“Stop posting in black-and-white, I thought someone died.”
Despite the ire surrounding Kate Middleton and Prince Williams’ anniversary photo, it is, perhaps, one of the favorite snaps of the royal couple from their wedding. In fact, the Prince of Wales has a framed copy of the said pic sitting on his work desk from as far back as 2017. And it’s been hiding in plain sight all along.
The Public Caught an Earlier Glimpse of the Royal Snap Years Back
Contrary to the widely-held view of the latest anniversary pic from the royals as never-before-seen, the public first got a sneak peek of it several years ago. In an April 2017 clip capturing a video call between Lady Gaga and Prince William for the Heads Together campaign, the photo appeared somewhere in the background as William and Gaga discussed mental health, its impact on society and the need to tackle it.
With most of the attention focused on the famous figures, their impactful words, and the luxurious interiors, one could have easily missed the black-and-white royal wedding photo of Kate Middleton and Prince William lurking behind the Prince’s laptop. But not eagle-eyed royal fans, who have since dug out the campaign video from the internet’s archives.
A copy of the video campaign on YouTube gave a clear view of William’s work desk. A collection of framed photos adorned the work area, with more symbolic portraits in sight when the camera panned the room. Years later, the photo is as good as new, with the released copy driving home the intended message about love and commitment. More than the rarity of the special anniversary photo, it’s the thought that counts.
