Until now, that is! There’s a strange and sweet informality to the first ever official joint portrait to be painted of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, which was released today. In the portrait by Jamie Coreth the future king and queen consort stand looking off to the side. Kate is turned toward her husband glancing back over her shoulder while William has his hand in his pocket. The duchess looks truly stunning in the emerald metallic gown by the Vampire’s Wife that she first wore on a visit to Ireland in March 2022, which in the portrait she has paired with matching pumps and what look like the pearl drop earrings that belonged to Princess Diana. The portrait was unveiled during the Cambridges’ visit to their namesake county of Cambridgeshire today, where they had the opportunity to view it for the first time at the University of Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum. Artist Jamie Coreth, who was commissioned in 2021 to paint the couple, said, “It has been the most extraordinary privilege of my life to be chosen to paint this picture. “I wanted to show Their Royal Highnesses in a manner where they appeared both relaxed and approachable, as well as elegant and dignified.” He went on, “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.” The unveiling of the portrait comes two days after William’s 40th birthday, which he celebrated quietly at home with his wife and children. When Kate turned 40 in January she marked the occasion by releasing three Victorian-inspired photographs of herself in which she posed in a variety of Alexander McQueen gowns. The portraits, taken by Paolo Roversi, were exhibited in a series of “meaningful places” associated with the duchess before going on permanent display at the National Portrait Gallery. Next up, 22 Protocol and Etiquette Rules that the Royal Family Lives By
