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Official Royal Wedding Photo Position Significance

The Significance Behind the Royal Family's Positions in the Official Wedding Photos

WINDSOR, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 19: In this handout image released by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex pose for an official wedding photograph with (left-to-right): Back row: Master Jasper Dyer, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Prince of Wales, Ms. Doria Ragland, The Duke of Cambridge; middle row: Master Brian Mulroney, the Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth II, the Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Miss Rylan Litt, Master John Mulroney; Front row: Miss Ivy Mulroney, Miss Florence van Cutsem, Miss Zalie Warren, Miss Remi Litt in The Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Alexi Lubomirski/The Duke and Duchess of Sussex via Getty Images) NEWS EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL USE. NO MERCHANDISING, ADVERTISING, SOUVENIRS, MEMORABILIA or COLOURABLY SIMILAR. NOT FOR USE AFTER 31 DECEMBER 2018 WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION FROM KENSINGTON PALACE. NO CROPPING. Copyright in the photograph is vested in The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Publications are asked to credit the photograph to Alexi Lubomirski. No charge should be made for the supply, release or publication of the photograph. The photograph must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form and must include all of the individuals in the photograph when published.
Every tiny royal wedding detail was planned with the utmost consideration and precision, and that includes the official wedding photos.

When the royal wedding pictures were released, you might have been so distracted by the beauty and grace of Miss United States (you're welcome, Miss Congeniality fans), that you missed the significance of each family member's position in the the official photos shot by Alexi Lubomirski. Former royal editor and Prince Harry biographer Duncan Larcombe told Harpers Bazaar "these portraits cement Harry and Meghan's place at the heart of the royal family" before going on to discuss the positioning of each member and the significance.

Duncan explains that due to the fact Doria, Meghan's mother, was her only relative able to attend, the Duke and Duchess had to stand in, literally, on her side so the photo didn't look unbalanced. Duncan said "if Thomas Markle had made it to the wedding, he likely would have been standing in the same spot where Prince William ended up posing, or even where Ragland stands in the portrait, seeing as Kate Middleton's father stood directly to her left in her wedding portraits."

The photographs may have also been another way the Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided to take a more relaxed approach to their wedding, with Kate Middleton sitting down with Princess Charlotte on her lap and an overall less formal setting compared to William and Kate's (although, it's still pretty damn regal to us). You can also clearly see the photographer's eye at work when it comes to symmetry: the queen, Doria, and Kate are all wearing similar colours, so positioning them in this way makes for the most visually appealing image, surrounded by the darker uniforms and suits worn by the men.

Whatever the reasons are, one thing is for sure: the photographs are beautiful, and Prince George clearly had a blast while they were being taken!

Image Source: Getty / Handout
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