A set of photographs to mark Prince William and fiancee's Kate Middleton engagement to each other were released to the public yesterday.

The photos, chosen by the couple, were from a series that were shot by Mario Testino, a fashion photographer who also has a history of doing royal portraiture. The photographer was a good friend of Princess Diana, Prince William's late mother and her favourite photographer, according to the Guardian. The Peruvian photographer has also taken pictures of Prince William on his 21st birthday and Prince Harry on his 20th birthday.

The two photos depict the couple in an informal fashion and the other, in a more formal setting. The former shows Prince William embracing Kate, while the latter is taken in St James's Palace council chamber, where walls hung with paintings of some of William's illustrious ancestors can be seen in the background. In both pictures, Kate's engagement ring from Prince William, an oval blue sapphire platinum ring surrounded by 14 smaller white diamonds, is clearly visible. The ring had been Princess Diana's engagement ring from Prince Charles.

According to People Magazine, Kate did her own make-up, but had her stylist James Pryce from the Richard Ward salon take care of her hair.

Testino said he was "very happy" to have been asked to photograph the "historic moment that the whole world was waiting for".

"They are in their prime and brimming with happiness. I have never felt so much joy as when I see them together," he added.

The couple, both 28, are preparing to get married on April 29, 2011.  They announced their engagement on November 16 earlier this year.