Royal portraits can be a matter of chance.
But the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge gave their first official joint portrait their personal stamp of approval during a visit to Cambridge, and rightfully so.
And fitting in perfectly with the theme, Kate, 40, is sporting a very special loan from the Queen in the portrait – the Duchess of Cambridge’s pearl pendant brooch.
The surprisingly realistic painting was commissioned last year as a gift for the people of Cambridgeshire and shows the couple standing side by side.
Kate wears an AUD 2830 emerald green dress from The Vampire’s Wife which she first wore during a visit to Dublin in 2020.
She completes the look with satin green Manolo Blahnik heels at AUD 1,500 and pearl earrings ‘By one of Britain’s leading portrait painters’ of Princess Diana.
William, dressed in a dark suit with a blue tie (and maybe a hint of red around his hair) is in a relaxed position, hand in pocket, other arm wrapped around his wife.
Both stare almost wistfully into the distance.
The new portrait of William and Kate was painted by award-winning artist Jamie Coreth, who is described on his website as ‘one of Britain’s leading portrait painters’ who ‘focuses on the character of his sitters, evoking a sense of their presence in his work”.
It must be exhibited to the public in the university campus.
The Duke and Duchess – Kate again wearing a favorite LK Bennett dress with a flowing blue coat and heels – met Mr Coreth as they saw the painting in Cambridgeshire for a series of engagements. William, 40, said after looking at the painting: ‘It’s quite big’ and told Mr Coreth it was ‘amazing’.
The portrait was commissioned by the Cambridgeshire Royal Portrait Fund, held by the Cambridge Community Foundation, as a gift to Cambridgeshire.
Mr Coreth incorporated the city of Cambridge into the portrait by painting the background with the tones and colors of many of its historic stone buildings. he said: “I wanted to show Their Royal Highnesses in a way where they seemed both relaxed and approachable, as well as elegant and dignified,” he said.
The public can view the portrait at the Fitzwilliam Museum for three years.
It will then be exhibited in other community spaces and galleries across Cambridgeshire. Kate and William wrote on their official Twitter account: “Delighted to see this new portrait unveiled at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge today!”
