Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace Kate Middleton and Prince William served a surprise with their latest portrait The Prince and Princess of Wales, both 43, snapped the photo ahead of the state banquet at Windsor Castle, where they helped host France's first couple For the evening event, the couple got glam for the white-tie dress code, with Princess Kate sporting her first tiara in a year and a half Kate MiddletonandPrince William's regal new portrait marks a departure from previous similar pictures, all thanks to the setting. On July 8, the Prince and Princess of Wales released a new photo of themselves dressed up forthe state banquet at Windsor Castle, celebrating the state visit from France. "Ready for what promises to be a wonderful State Banquet this evening in Windsor," their team wrote below the portrait shared to the couple's official social media accounts, adding emojis of the French flag and Great Britain's Union Jack. The Prince and Princess of Wales, both 43, were the picture of royal elegance in their white-tie attire and royal regalia, where William sported a black tailcoat and Kate wore a red gown with cape by Sarah Burton (her bridal gown designer) for Givenchy. Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace The image also revealedPrincess Kate's tiara return for the first time since 2023, but that wasn't the only striking aspect. Switching things up, the picture of the Prince and Princess of Wales, credited to Andrew Parsons, was snapped outdoors. Royal portraits commemorating formal occasions like state visitsare traditionally taken indoors in settings like state rooms, so it was different for William and Kate to capture such a snap outside. The shot showed them standing close together before a bucolic background below the summer sun. The Prince and Princess of Wales live close to Windsor Castle with their children,Prince George, 11,Princess Charlotte, 10, andPrince Louis, 7, meaning that the diplomatic dinner didn't take them far from home. The couple could have gotten ready at theirAdelaide Cottagehome and taken the picture there before heading out, or they may have snapped it elsewhere within the vast grounds of Windsor Castle. The Windsor estate covers 15,800 acres, a vast holding that includes the public Windsor Great Park and the private Home Park, where the royal family's ancestral castle is. Chris Jackson/Getty Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! In a twist, the latest portrait of William and Kate is actually the second photo that they have recently released in connection with a major event that was taken outside. Following theTrooping the Colour festivitiesorganized inKing Charles' honor on Jun 14, the coupleshared a family photo snapped on steps. The Prince and Princess of Wales/Instagram "Another brilliant day at Trooping the Colour for His Majesty's Birthday Parade," read the caption of the snap showing the Wales family wearing their outfits from parade day. "Thank you to everybody who came, and to all those who took part." Read the original article onPeople
