Kate Middleton and Prince William unveiled their first official joint portrait on Thursday. Visiting the City of Cambridge, the royal couple stopped by the University of Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum for the unveiling of the artwork by award-winning portrait artist Jamie Coreth. It was commissioned last year by the Cambridgeshire Royal Portrait Fund as a contribution to Cambridgeshire.
Coreth took to Instagram to express, “A surreal and extraordinary experience to have had my painting of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge unveiled today at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. It has been the most extraordinary privilege of my life to be chosen to paint this picture.”
In a quote obtained by BBC News, the artist explained the vision. “As it is the first portrait to depict them together, and specifically during their time as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, I wanted the image to evoke a feeling of balance between their public and private lives.”
Middleton wore a metallic emerald “Falconetti” dress by Susie Cave’s fashion label The Vampire’s Wife, the designer also commented on the moment writing on social media that the landmark portrait stands as, “One of the proudest moments of my life.”
Middleton wore the dress in 2020 for her visit to the Guinness Storehouse’s Gravity Bar in Dublin alongside Prince William during their trip to Ireland. With a particular affinity for the fashion label, the Duchess recently wore a pink gown by The Vampire’s Wife for her trip to Belize in March.
Painted wearing teardrop pearl earrings, a pearl brooch, and a three-layered pearl bracelet, Middleton is also seen in a pair of matching green Manolo Blahnik Hangisi heels.
The piece will go on loan to the National Portrait Gallery for a period of time in 2023 before it is returned to its current home in the Fitzwilliam Museum.
The official portrait comes after the release of three formal photographs of the Duchess of Cambridge, commemorating her 40th birthday in January, photographed by Italian fashion photographer Paolo Roversi.
