In the photo, Prince William is having a conversation with someone who’s not pictured. The pic was taken from below, with the lens facing up toward Prince William and the ceiling.
As a result, the photographer also captured a halo-like light fixture above the royal’s head. It took my eyes a minute to understand that the light was much farther away and not lingering over his head like a ring light.
This isn’t the first time that a royal portrait has doubled as an optical illusion. In December 2024, King Charles attended an Advent service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate. Photographers captured a snap of the king that made me do a double take because the background cast an eerie glow around the monarch.