© Misan Harriman/Getty ImagesPrince Harry Meghan Markle - Misan Harriman/Getty Images
That Prince Harry has taken an altogether different road map to regal contentment isn't news. The departure from these shores, the taking up with the in-crowd of Montecito and approach to campaigning has been a rare show of individualism within the rigid institution that is The Firm. And, unlike the rigidly be-suited images of his forefathers, the Duke of Sussex takes a generally more relaxed approach to his image - compared to his brother, the Duke of Cambridge, who's the buttoned-up king-in-waiting to Harry's scrappily ginger-haired, cheeky princeling.
And with the news that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting a younger sibling to baby Archie, what stood out in the released image that accompanied the announcement was the carefree, relaxed ease of the arrangement - a sun-dappled garden, Meghan in a breezy gown, Prince Harry in a crumpled shirt and chinos, with gnarly feet fully on display. Could they be the first royal plates of meat to grace an official portrait?
It also raises a question that a lot of men grapple with in the warmer months; when and whether it's ever appropriate to unsheath and showcase the trotters for all to see?
© Provided by The TelegraphPrince Harry
A stylish colleague of mine abides by the mantra that a man's legs and feet should never be seen in the city - they're for beach or poolside only. Another insists that a man exposing his toes is tantamount to obscenity - closed-toe sandals are as racy as he tends to get.
Certainly, there are no more off-putting sights than a horny pair of tootsies on display as you enjoy a summer lunch on holiday, winking at you in all their hairy, knobbly glory. Women tend to take care of their feet, whereas your average British man has a pair suitable for Middle Earth. It's also the exact opposite of the world the prince has come from and how it's been captured historically; properly polished Oxfords with a suit, posing rigidly, or muddy wellies at Balmoral, if you please.
That said, there's something rather candid about Harry getting his hoofs out. Cynics might well speculate that it's part of a deliberately on brand message (see the 'shot on an iPad' hashtag - thanks Apple!) that this woke, California-based pair are grounded to #nature, but it shows a shrugging off of upright British appropriateness that's refreshing. The scene towards the end of Pretty Woman where Richard Gere rolls up the trouser hems of his corporate grey suit, peels off his socks and wanders barefoot on the grass springs to mind, as the character realises there's more to life than soulless, shirt and tie uniformity. Perhaps his happily-on-show feet demonstrate that Prince Harry feels similarly unshackled.
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