Two official photos of the royal engagement had been released by the happy royal couple Prince William and bride-to-be Catherine Middleton.

It is very beautiful and touching that they have asked famed photographer Mario Testino to capture their royal blushes.

Beautiful, lovely...

Taken in the Council Chamber in the State Apartment in St. James Palace, the photos shows the royal couple's relaxed, modern and yet elegant personalities.

A clear sign of the changing times in the palace.

It is historic that they made Mario Testino a part of the engagement. No word yet as to whether he shall also be taking the official wedding photos yet.

As one can remember, Testino took the enigmatic photos of the late Princess Diana for Vanity Fair magazine back in July 1997. Known for his meticulous take on retouching photos, transcending his confidence to his subjects and encouraging them to be more experimental yet natural, Mario Testino is, in my opinion, the best choice.

And as we can see, indeed he is.

(Trivia: Ms Catherine Middleton took photography courses under Mario Testino years back)

Yes I woke up early just to catch their afternoon audience with the press at St. James to make their official statements about their engagement. The minute I got a glimpse of that dark blue glimmer on her ring finger I immediately recognized the unforgettable blue sapphire.

And there you are ladies and gentlemen, Prince William's mother's own engagement ring, the famous blue sapphire ring that weighed 18 carats surrounded by 14 small diamonds in an elegant cluster setting by Garrard Jewellers.

It is very sweet of Prince William to have given his future wife this ring. Although quite a number of nay sayers are already abuzz about the gesture but I personally am touched with the sweet history unfolding on my tv set. It is beautiful. Catherine Middleton is beautiful. (There were rumors earlier this year that Queen Elizabeth has ordered everyone in the palace to address Kate as Catherine, that was probably a give away of the upcoming engagement.)

Behold, the engagement ring...

(Some might notice that there is no photo of the late Princess Diana of Wales in this entry. I love her. She was fantastic. She ruled my world. I even cut my hair short like hers at several points in my life. However I would want this moments to be none other but the young happy couple's. It is their lives now. Their moment, their future and their love.)

Wishing them the best!!!

We, in this country, shall be sleeping to the joyous news of Britain's Prince William to marry girlfriend of 8 years, Miss Catherine Middleton sometime during the summer or spring of 2011!!! A very happy and welcomed news indeed. A royal engagement!!!

Clarence House made the announcement in the morning of November 15, London time.

Princess Catherine. Soon to be the Queen Catherine of England.

Beautiful indeed! Beautiful couple.

Makes me nostalgic. 30 years ago the whole world went simply wild with the marriage of the Prince's parents.

Can you just imagine how chic this one particular wedding will be. She is afterall the future Queen.

Within minutes after the breaking news on Twitter (yes I follow almost every news outlet) Miss Catherine Middleton's life unfolds in every tv station around the globe...

So very happy for the couple!!!

In the words of Britain's Prime Minister, he "was in the middle of a cabinet meeting when a piece of paper was passed bearing the good news from Clarence House. There was great cheering and loud banging on the table..."

I am giddy with excitement waiting for their appearance in the afternoon (London time) to pose for official photos.

And the ring...can you imagine?

Knowing the Windsors of England (well at least by observance from a distance), I'm sure it will be simple, modest, elegant but grand.

Ooooohhhh, they are LOVE.