Happy 40th Birthday to the Duchess of Cambridge!
Today, the Duchess of Cambridge is celebrating her 40th birthday and Kensington Palace released three new portraits to mark the day.
©Paolo Roversi/Kensington Palace
The portraits were taken by Italian fashion photographer Paolo Roversi at Kew Gardens in November 2021. About working with the Duchess of Cambridge, he said: "I was moved by her warmth and friendly welcome and enchanted by her shining eyes that reflected the loveliness of her soul and her smile showing the generosity of her heart. I have met a wonderful person, a person who, with her positive energy, can bring hope to the whole world."
©Paolo Roversi/Kensington Palace
The three portraits will be part of the National Portrait Gallery’s permanent collection as the Duchess of Cambridge is their Patron. Ahead of the NPG’s re-opening in 2023, the three portraits will also feature in their ‘Coming Home’ project and will thus be exposed in Berkshire, St Andrews, and Anglesey - three locations which are important to the Duchess of Cambridge.
©Paolo Roversi/Kensington Palace
The Duchess of Cambridge selected new Alexander McQueen dresses and borrowed jewels for the portraits. In the first portrait, she is wearing a red version of Alexander McQueen’s Asymmetric Draped Sleeve Dress from the Fall 2021 collection with earrings on loan from the Queen. In the second portrait, she is wearing a bespoke McQueen dress from the Spring 2022 collection with Diana’s Collingwood earrings. In the last portrait, she is wearing a one-shoulder dress from McQueen’s Resort 2022 collection with Diana’s Collingwood earrings.