Kate Middleton's 40th birthday portraits released: The future Queen in homage to Princess Diana
- Portraits to mark the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton's 40th birthday have been published.
- The photographer Paolo Roversi said taking the portraits was "a true honor."
Photos to celebrate Kate Middleton's 40th birthday have been published.
The Duchess of Cambridge has had three portraits taken by renowned Italian photographer Paolo Roversi.
The future Queen was photographed sitting in Kew Gardens in a range of Alexander McQueen ball gowns.
According to the MailOnline, in the black-and-white pictures, the Duchess wears pearl and diamond earrings that once belonged to Princess Diana, the late mother of Prince William.
They will be a part of a National Portrait Gallery project, titled Coming Home, involving portraits of famous individuals displayed close to places they are connected to.
Roversi said: "Taking the portrait of Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge was a true honor for me and a moment of pure joy." The Guardian reports.
"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." Roversi added.
The Duchess has often opted for a more casual approach to her photoshoots.
The 2012 painting by Paul Emsley shows the Duchess in a navy blouse, focusing on her face. Roya Nikkhah, The Sunday Times Royal Editor, writes that Sandy Nairne, then director of the National Portrait Gallery, recalls people being shocked at the sight of a Royal looking so down to earth.
The future Queen took a similar approach to a Vogue shoot in 2016, posing in a t-shirt and trousers at the Cambridges' country house.
The Sunday Times reported that Kate has often lamented the media's focus on her fashion, diverting attention from work for important causes that she does.
A close friend told The Sunday Times: "When she goes to the Bond premiere or is at Trooping the Colour, of course, she puts on the 'uniform' of the role.
"But what was enormously frustrating and difficult for her, especially in the early days, was she was going out and doing the work she was interested in and was hugely important to her, and people just talked about what she was wearing."
Recently, the mother of Princes Louis and George and Princess Charlotte has taken over Prince Harry's role of patron of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the Rugby Football League (RFL).
Throughout her time as Duchess, she has also worked closely with children's charities, even being dubbed the "children's princess" in recognition of her dedication to young people.
She also launched Heads Together, a mental health charity, along with her husband.