The first-ever official joint portrait of Prince William and Kate Middleton has just been unveiled at the University of Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum.
Per Sky News, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, both 40, stopped by the Museum on Thursday (June 23) to view the painted artwork as it was revealed to the public for the first time.
The piece was commissioned in 2021 by the Cambridgeshire Royal Portrait Fund, which is held by the Cambridge Community Foundation as a gift to the people of the county.
The portrait was painted by the award-winning British portrait artist Jamie Coreth and it displays Kate in a metallic emerald dress, and William in a dark suit and a blue tie.
The artist disclosed that he chose to honor Cambridge by using the tones and shades of many of its historical stone buildings in the backdrop of the portrait. He also included the use of a hexagonal architectural motif which can be seen on buildings across the city.
Check out the painting below:Coreth is described on his website as "one of Britain's leading portrait artists" who "focuses on the character of his sitters, evoking a sense of their presence in his work".
The artist revealed that being able to paint the Cambridge couple is the "most extraordinary privilege" of his life. He added that he wanted to portray the royal couple "in a manner where they appeared both relaxed and approachable, as well as elegant and dignified."
"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," Coreth continued.
"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," he added.
During the royal couple's visit to Cambridgeshire, they met supporters of the project, including the artist, and Lady Sibyl Marshall - the wife of the late Sir Michael Marshall - who initially proposed the idea to create the portrait.
According to People, later in the day, Kate and Prince William will participate in the first-ever Cambridgeshire County Day at the July Racecourse. The couple will visit several stalls and meet community members.
The portrait will be available at the Fitzwilliam Museum for members of the public to view for three years. It will then be displayed in other community spaces and galleries around Cambridgeshire.
The artwork will also be loaned to the National Portrait Gallery for a short time in 2023 to mark the gallery's reopening.
.jpg_BMG6UE?tr=h-184)
