There was a collective, “Aah”, on Friday, when William and Catherine posted the latest in their ‘keeping-it-real’ social media photos. A beautiful picture of William kissing Catherine on the cheek, as they sat in woodlands, was posted for Valentine’s Day – with a simple caption of a heart emoji.
It’s incredibly sweet and endearingly mushy and we – along with the quarter of a million people who liked it within a couple of hours – love it. After a year of multiple pressures and stresses, it’s just a really lovely reminder that we’re all human. To continue the theme, here’s six of our favourite royal couples:
William and Catherine
Top of the list are the Wales’, of course, who have shown that despite a traumatic year, the pair are determined to come out of it together. University sweethearts, they famously split up briefly for a period in 2007, before reuniting and marrying in 2011. And almost 15 years later, we reckon they have reason to celebrate.
Elizabeth and Philip
The longest love story belongs to that of the late Queen and Prince Philip. Once she set eyes on the naval cadet, the young princess was determined he was the one. Married in 1947, they were the glamour couple of their day and stayed by each other’s side for 73 years, until Philip passed away first, in 2021.
Charles and Camilla
Contentious, we know, and we wish Charles and Diana had enjoyed a happy ending. But Camilla was always the one and despite being publicly vilified, she showed enormous grace and resilience, finally marrying her prince, in April 2005. Celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, Charles and Camilla make a fabulous team.
Zara and Mike
By the far the most-fun couple in the royal ranks, Zara and Mike Tindall always look to be enjoying themselves, even when they’re at formal events. They’re the couple you’d love to invite to a party. Married in a low-key ceremony in 2011, just after William and Kate, they’ve managed to live life the same way – low-key, but big fun.
Beatrice and Edoardo
This pair also made our hotlist because, like Zara and Mike, they keep it real. They also had a laid-back wedding, in the middle of lockdown in 2020; Beatrice in one of our favourite royal wedding dresses of all time – a repurposed Norman Hartnell gown from the late Queen. Having just had their second daughter, Athena, we wish the Mapelli Mozzis well.
Margaret and Peter
Special mention goes to the royal wedding that never was, between Princess Margaret and Group Captain Peter Townsend. Margaret’s love for the royal equerry was revealed when she was spotted brushing the fluff off his shoulder at her sister’s coronation in 1953. However, Peter was divorced and back then, it was seen as scandalous – Edward VIII had abdicated for the same reason. Told to wait, in 1955, the Queen informed Margaret the government decreed she must renounce her title to marry Peter. She did not.
Harry & Meghan’s loved up too
Hours after Catherine and William’s social media PDA, Meghan shared this never-before-seen image as her Valentine’s Day post on Instagram. She later posted a video of her, Lilibet and Archie making strawberry love hearts (well, you can see the princess’s arms and the back of her big brother’s head).
After the Duchess headed back to Montecito on Tuesday, returning home early from Harry’s Invictus Games in Vancouver, Canada to look after Archie and Lilibet, she captioned the loved-up photo: “Back home taking care of our babies, and missing my Valentine, as he continues on at the Invictus Games, changing lives and reminding all of us of the power of healing and resilience through these incredible veterans and their families. Beyond proud of my husband and what he’s created. My love, I will eat burgers & fries and fish & chips with you forever. Thank you for you. #lovewins As ever, M.”
The week-long 2025 Invictus Games ends today, and saw the Duke and Duchess looking just as loved up as they did eight years ago, when the event was last in Canada where Harry and Meghan made their first public appearance as a couple in Toronto.
Catherine goes to prison
Don’t worry, the Princess of Wales was only visiting. Catherine made a trip to HM Prison Styal in Cheshire, on Wednesday, to see its Mother and Baby Unit. Run by Action for Children, the unit supports new mothers who are in prison and helps them bond. Catherine is patron of the charity and met staff and prisoners, saying, “It is great that you are looking at the mother’s wellbeing.”
“It was an absolute pleasure to welcome our Patron to Action for Children’s Mother and Baby Unit. The Princess took time to talk to our staff about how our service works to ensure these babies don’t miss out and to give them the best chance of a positive future. She also spent time with some of the mums and babies to understand the importance of the service,” said spokeswoman Amanda Taylor.
Sophie & Edward hit new peaks in Nepal
Feeling the love during their six-day visit to Nepal last week, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh spoke about their 25-year-old marriage.
On a visit to the Godawari National Botanic Garden, just on the outskirts of Kathmandu, the couple planted a tree, next to one planted by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. They were also asked by the press about the secret to their decades-long romance, with the duke replying: “Because we're best friends,” to which Sophie agreed: “That's true.”
Among their engagements while in Nepal, Edward met with the Duke of Edinburgh International Award participants, while Sophie focused on her interests of supporting survivors of sexual exploitation, gender-based violence and trafficking.
Mike’s Valentine’s gift to Zara (er, possibly)
Jolly good sport Mike Tindall gave Zara plenty to laugh about this week, starring in the Beano wearing a matching blue and yellow suit while teaming up with Bananaman for the superhero’s 45th anniversary.
The comic’s cover star also guest-edits the latest edition of Beano and in his editor’s letter Mike says: “My job now is being a dad and I love it. It’s important to set a good example, so I play pranks on the kids and their mum. I love hiding and jumping out to scare them. It works best on mum – she screams SO loudly!”