Loved up Harry and Meghan’s engagement photos

When Meghan Markle chose to wear a sheer bodice in her engagement photos, she may not have realised it hailed from a Sydney beach.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for their official engagement photo. Picture: Getty

When Meghan Markle took the brave choice to wear a $75,000, sheer bodice with a black tulle gown for her official engagement photos and look adoringly into the eyes of Prince Harry, she may not have realised the creation emanated straight from Sydney’s southern beach suburb of Cronulla.

Ms Markle chose the high couture design of Ralph & Russo for her sexy, showbiz statement piece, and now the London based firm is one of the favourites to design her wedding dress for the royal marriage on May 19.

Yet the creative brains behind the label, Tamara Ralph, and her partner, a former banker Michael Russo, whom Ralph met within four hours of arriving in London more than a decade ago, are both Australians.

Ralph hails from a four generations of couturiers and grew up in Cronulla digging among her mother’s patterns and fabrics and began making bespoke clothes for her friends. She then completed training at the Whitehouse Institute of Design in Melbourne.

As a way to say thank you, they have decided to share this candid photograph from the day of their portrait sittings directly with all of you. pic.twitter.com/MROyiKWEnG

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 21, 2017

With Russo’s financial acumen — he’s from Brisbane — the duo has created one of London’s most sought after high couture labels, including outfitting Beyonce for her Mrs Carter tour, and Angelina Jolie’s outfits, including when she was honoured by the Queen.

Now that they have provided a special dress for the soon to be member of the Royal Family, both Ralph and Russo have declined interviews. But the controversy of the choice — considered by some British social commentators to be a tad daring, particularly in contrast to the more conservative off the rack attire of Kate Middleton at her engagement portrait with Prince William — has only reinforced Ralph’s show-some-flesh mantra.

As she described in the company’s catalogue, the autumn winter collection its about “capturing contemporary female beauty.”

Ms Markle selected the eye-popping dress from the autumn/winter 16 collection, which took about a month of feverish hand sewing to have the floor-length dress ready for this week’s photos.

The photographs were taken at Frogmore House on the Windsor Castle estate by celebrity photographer Alexi Lubomirski, when the temperatures were around zero degrees, explaining how one of the three official photograph released overnight features a jumper from Victoria Beckham.

While much attention was paid to the sheer top of the gown, the lower half featured a gorgeous silk organza skirt which was hand appliqued with silk tulle ruffles.

The company only sells one of each dress in each country, ensuring that this particular creation is unique within Britain.

Snap happy: Couple release engagement photos

Britain’s Prince Harry and his American fiancee Meghan Markle have released a series of portraits by New York-based fashion photographer Alexi Lubomirski to mark their engagement.

Lubomirski, a former assistant to Mario Testino, famed for his photos of Harry’s mother Princess Diana, took the pictures this week at the royal retreat of Frogmore House, near Windsor Castle, west of London, where the couple are due to marry on May 19.

Prince Harry posing with his fiance Meghan Markle at Frogmore House in Windsor in one of two official engagement photos. Picture: AFP

“I cannot help but smile when I look at the photos that we took of them, such was their happiness together,” Lubomirski said.

Queen Elizabeth’s 33-year-old grandson, Harry, fifth-in-line to the throne, and Markle, 36, who stars in the US TV legal drama Suits, announced their engagement last month.