William and Kate: New portraits released for 10th wedding anniversary

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were married on 29 April 2011 after an 8-year relationship

Handout photo of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge taken at Kensington Palace this week to mark their 10th wedding anniversary (PA)

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge can be seen smiling and cuddling in new portraits released in celebration of their 10th wedding anniversary.

The new photographs were taken at Kensington Palace this week by photographer Chris Floyd and feature William and Kate with big, bright smiles and looking lovingly at one another.

Their wedding anniversary on Thursday marks a decade since Kate became a fully signed-up member of the royal family, an HRH, a duchess and a future queen.

In the anniversary images, they are wearing matching blue outfits. William dons a denim shirt underneath a crew neck jumper and navy chinos, while Kate sports a mid-blue dress wrap dress with frilled cuffs.

William, who is second in line to the throne, married his former university flatmate Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey on 29 April 2011 after an eight-year relationship. The couple now have three children, seven-year-old Prince George, five-year-old Princess Charlotte and three-year-old Prince Louis.

Kate, who comes from a wealthy middle-class background, has focused her charity work since their marriage on early years, young people’s mental health, the visual arts and promoting the benefits of outdoor life.

The Cambridges have been prominently supporting key workers and frontline NHS staff throughout the Covid-19 crisis with video calls and face-to-face engagement when permitted. They have also carried out work promoting the vaccine rollout and became joint patrons of NHS Charities Together.

The 240 NHS charities in the UK provide extra funding and additional services above and beyond what the NHS core-funds, supporting hospitals, community and mental health services, and ambulance services.

Royal writer Penny Juror told the PA news agency that Kate is a “model of what a future queen should be”, adding that she was “absolutely extraordinary”.

Handout photo of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge taken at Kensington Palace this week to mark their 10th wedding anniversary (PA)

“She has got such poise and elegance and she’s not in competition with William. She doesn’t seem to be seeking fame,” said Ms Juror.

The traditional gift on a 10th wedding anniversary is tin, which symbolises strength and durability.

The anniversary comes after a tumultuous year within the royal family, which was confronted with personal challenges as it dealt with the fallout from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s bombshell Oprah interview.

Harry and Meghan’s explosive revelations was believed to have plunged the monarchy into crisis, as they accused the royal family of racism and the institution of failing to support Meghan when she was suicidal.

Meghan also told Oprah Winfrey during the primetime television show that Kate made her cry in the run-up to her wedding over a disagreement on flower girl dresses.

The Duchess of Sussex said the Palace failed to correct reports which said it was she who left Kate in tears during the incident. Meghan said Kate later gave her flowers to apologise.

It has been suggested that Kate may be a potential peacemaker who could heal the ongoing rift between William and Harry.

Following the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral earlier this month, Harry appeared to smile briefly at Kate as the three spoke together before she stepped back to allow the brothers to continue walking with one another.