See Prince William & Kate Middleton's 1st Official Joint Portrait

23.06.2022, 18:28 harpersbazaar.com

The first official joint portrait of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge portrays Duchess Kate in one of her most memorable outfits to date. The artwork, commissioned last year by the Cambridgeshire Royal Portrait Fund, was unveiled today at the University of Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum. British artist Jamie Coreth painted the portrait, taking inspiration from an appearance the couple made during a 2020 visit to Dublin, Ireland. In the painting, Kate shimmers in a metallic, deep green midi dress from The Vampire's Wife (which is still available for purchase here), paired with satin green Manolo Blahnik pumps and a pair of pearl drop earrings that once belonged to Princess Diana. Meanwhile, Prince William wears a black suit with a white button-up shirt and a blue tie. With the portrait serving as a gift to Cambridgeshire, Coreth worked to incorporate the city into the piece by painting the background with the tones and colors of the region's historical buildings. The portrait also includes a hexagonal architectural motif, a signature trait that can be found on buildings throughout Cambridge. "It has been the most extraordinary privilege of my life to be chosen to paint this picture," Coreth said in a statement. "I wanted to show Their Royal Highnesses in a manner where they appeared both relaxed and approachable, as well as elegant and dignified. 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. The piece was commissioned as a gift for the people of Cambridgeshire, and I hope they will enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed creating it." People can view the portrait at the Fitzwilliam Museum for three years, after which the piece will be exhibited in other spaces and galleries around the city. The painting will additionally be loaned to the National Portrait Gallery for its 2023 reopening.