In her third engagement of the week, The Duchess of Cambridge visited the National Portrait Gallery, for the 2019 Portrait Gala.
Having spent the morning at a children’s centre in London, Kate attended her third annual Portrait Gala, a star-studded fundraising event for the gallery; Catherine has been patron since 2012.
Upon arrival, the Duchess was met by Westminster’s Deputy Lord Lieutenant, Dr Paul Knapman, as well as Gallery Director, Dr Nicholas Cullinan. Once inside, the Royal was introduced to Chairman of the Gallery’s Trustee Board, David Ross and, Chairman of the Gala Committee, Edward Enninful OBE, who is also editor of British Vogue.
Catherine spent time talking to members of the Gallery’s Youth Forum and viewed art produced by the Gallery’s outreach programme. She learnt about plans for the Gallery’s Creative Connections activities and Inspiring People re-development project to be held UK-wide across schools and other museums across the country; this is to encourage students to create new works of art that will be exhibited locally.
The National Portrait Gallery is a patronage close to Kate’s heart. It is well known that as an avid art lover; she graduated with a degree in History of Art at St Andrew’s, as well as having spent time studying the subject at the British Institute in Florence.
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The Gallery is also home to Kate’s first (and to-date, only) official portrait. Painted by Paul Emsley, it was unveiled in 2013 when she was newly-pregnant with Prince George.
The Duchess was not the only royal in attendance, however, as The Queen’s nephew, The Earl of Snowdon, was there as well as Princess Beatrice, who was publicly photographed for the first time with her new boyfriend Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. He is the son of an old family friend and they are reputed to have started their relationship around about the time of Princess Eugenie’s wedding.
Beatrice and Edoardo were there as guests of Philippe Ghanem and Sabine Getty, a jewellery designer.
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For information on the Duchess’ outfit, head to our sister site, here.
The celebrity-packed event was supported by numerous socialites too. Amongst the high profile crowd were David and Victoria Beckham, and Bianca Jagger. Liam Payne, and names like Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss and were also on the guest list.
Funds raised from the event go towards a project for the Gallery’s complete renewal which will see the building undergo significant works.
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