Kensington Palace has released one of three new portraits of Duchess Kate Middleton on Twitter.
In celebration of Duchess Kate Middleton’s 40th birthday on January 9, Kensington Palace has released three new portraits of the royal family member. The Duchess of Cambridge was photographed by Paolo Roversi and the photos were clicked in the Kew Gardens in November 2021, according to a Kensington Palace announcement. The three beautiful portraits of the Duchess will be part of the National Portrait Gallery’s collection. A statement from Kensington Palace accompanying one of the three images on Twitter said: “I’m excited to share a new portrait of The Duchess tomorrow for her 40th birthday.”
Along with the black and white image of Duchess Kate Middleton, the statement added: “This is one of three new portraits that will enter the National Portrait Gallery’s permanent collection, of which the Duchess is the patron saint.”
See the image here:
We’re excited to share a new portrait of The Duchess tomorrow for her 40th birthday.
This is one of three new portraits in the permanent collection of the @NPGLondon, of which the Duchess is patroness.
???? Paolo Roversic pic.twitter.com/55Z5qBMLaP
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) January 8, 2022
In response to the tweet, the National Portrait Gallery said: “I am delighted to welcome the three new portraits to our collection!”
We are delighted to welcome the three new portraits to our collection!
— National Portrait Gallery (@NPGLondon) January 8, 2022
The image shared on Twitter shows the Duchess in an Alexander McQueen dress, a report from Vogue confirms. It also stated that the earrings the Duchess was wearing in the photo once belonged to Princess Diana, her late mother-in-law.
The new portraits will be part of the National Portrait Gallery’s collection, which is expected to reopen in 2023. According to a report from ET, the portraits will be featured in the gallery’s “Coming Home” project. The ‘Coming Home’ project has been described by the palace as ‘a nationwide initiative sending portraits of famous individuals to locations with which they are closely associated’. It is intended to give the residents of the United Kingdom the opportunity to view famous works on site.
Ahead of the National Portrait Gallery’s reopening in 2023, the statues will be displayed in three locations dear to the Duchess. They will be seen this year in Kate Middleton’s hometown of Berkshire, her alma mater of St Andrew’s University in Scotland, as well as Anglesey in Wales, where she first lived with Prince William after their marriage.
The photos were unanimously praised online. Commenting on the image shared on Twitter, one user said: “I am speechless, this image is simply iconic and will go down in history!”
I am speechless, this statue is simply iconic and will go down in history! I really don’t know how to react, I’m just mesmerized by the beauty, elegance and perfection of this portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge ????❤️
— Anna ????✨ (@artcambridges) January 8, 2022
Another user shared this, writing: “Paolo Roversi has captured a fleeting thing of beauty. It’s like we’ve traveled back to the Victorian era. The setting, spartan dress, bold profile, angelic hair and just a glimpse of that ring. Bravo! This is one for all ages.”
Paolo Roversi has captured a fleeting thing of beauty. It’s like we have traveled back to the Victorian era. The setting, spartan dress, bold profile, angelic hair and just a glimpse of that ring. Bravo! This is one for the ages. ???? ????
— Melissa Wood (@mwoodpen) January 8, 2022
Another commenter shared a photo of Princess Diana, saying, “Reminds me of a dress a very young Princess Diana wore.”
Reminds me of a dress a very young Princess Diana wore pic.twitter.com/oeAiiH1agp
— Nicola Trainer (@loddle2906) January 8, 2022
Duchess Kate Middleton has been married to Prince William since 2011. Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, is second in line to the British throne. The couple has three children.
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