A stunning 40th birthday
portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge has arrived in Scotland.
The image, which shows Kate posing side-on in a red gown with her hair tousled
into waves, has been put up on display at the Wardlaw Museum at the University
of St Andrews.
The portrait, taken by Paolo
Roversi, is on loan from the National Portrait Gallery in London.
Kate studied at the Scottish
university and it was where she first set eyes on her future husband Prince
William – so it’s no wonder she chose St Andrews as one of the venues where her
portrait would be displayed.
A tweet posted on the museum’s
official Twitter account teased: “We love it when former students visit
us, so we’re thrilled to welcome Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge – in portrait
form – to the Wardlaw Museum. The portrait, taken by Paolo Roversi to celebrate
the Duchess’ 40th birthday, is on loan from @NPGLondon.”
The portrait will be available
to view from Sunday 12 June until the end of September, free of charge to
members of the public. It is on loan as part of the National Portrait Gallery’s
‘Coming Home’ initiative, which sees portraits of iconic individuals travel to
places with which they have close links.
Three official pictures were
released to mark Kate’s milestone birthday in January. The other two
photos are heading to Berkshire, where Kate was born, and Anglesey, the Welsh
island where the couple first lived together in their early years of marriage.
William worked as an RAF
search and rescue helicopter pilot in north Wales before the royals relocated
to London with their newborn Prince George.
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Kate attended St Andrews from 2002 to 2005
The photos were taken in
November 2021 at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, with Kate wearing three
exquisite gowns by Alexander McQueen, the British label that created her
historic wedding dress.
Mr Roversi said: “Taking
the portrait of Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cambridge, was a true honour
for me, and a moment of pure joy. 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.
“It was a profound and
rich experience for me, an unforgettable moment. I have met a wonderful person,
a person who, with her positive energy, can bring hope to the whole
world.”
