Prince William, Kate Middleton visit their first official portrait as the painting is unveiled
A painted portrait of Prince William and Kate Middleton is getting the royal treatment at an English museum.
The University of Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum unveiled the first official painted portrait of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who visited the venue on Thursday to see the work of art.
The portrait was painted by artist Jamie Coreth, who described the experience as “the most extraordinary privilege of my life.”
“I wanted to show Their Royal Highnesses in a manner where they appeared both relaxed and approachable, as well as elegant and dignified,” Coreth said in a statement.
“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 portrait will be available for public viewing at the Fitzwilliam Museum for the next three years, aside from a brief stretch next year when it will be displayed at the National Portrait Gallery in London to commemorate the venue’s reopening.
The painting will then will be displayed at other venues throughout Cambridgeshire, which is located in the East of England.
“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,” Coreth said.
William, who is second in line to the British throne, celebrated his 40th birthday this week. He and Middleton, 40, married in 2011 and have three kids together.
