Prince William and Kate Middleton Just Unveiled Their First Official Joint Portrait and Fans Can’t Get Enough: ’40 Never Looked so Good’
TL; DR:
- Prince William and Kate Middleton unveiled their first official joint portrait by Jamie Coreth.
- Fan reactions on Instagram varied.
- The portrait is on display at the University of Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum.
It’s a first for Prince William and Kate Middleton. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge revealed their first official joint portrait together. So far, reactions on Instagram have ranged from praise and disbelief that it’s a painting and not a photograph to questions about William’s pose. Ahead, learn more about the portrait, what fans have to say about it, plus why it might look familiar.
Prince William and Kate Middleton unveil their first joint portrait
During a June 23 visit to their namesake region of Cambridgeshire, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the unveiling of their first joint portrait. The parents of three went to the University of Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum, located in the city of Cambridge, to check out the portrait as it was revealed to the public.
Per ET, according to a statement from Kensington Palace, William and Kate’s joint portrait was commissioned in 2021 by the Cambridgeshire Royal Portrait Fund. A gift to Cambridgeshire, award-winning British portrait artist Jamie Coreth painted the work.
The statement also included how Coreth incorporated nods to Cambridge using tones and colors similar to the city’s historical stone buildings.
Reactions to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s portrait vary on Instagram
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared a snapshot of their joint portrait In a June 23 Instagram post. It features Kate, clad in a green sequin gown and pearls, standing next to William in a suit and blue tie.
Fans were quick to share their thoughts in the comments. “It’s absolutely beautiful and powerful!! I love it so much!!! Pure perfection 😍😍😍😍 big congratulations to Jamie 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻,” one person wrote.
“STUNNING!!! Beautiful subjects and such a great talent who captured them as well as any photograph would 👏👏👏👏,” another added.
“Is this real??? It’s gorgeous!! And I -LOVE- William’s expression! Great modern, yet timeless portrait!” wrote another.
Others commented on how much the painting resembles a photograph. “I can’t get over the artistry of this painting,” one person wrote in the comments. “It truly looks like a photo. Kudos to the artist 👏👏👏.” Another chimed in with something similar, saying, “Hard to believe this is a painting and not a picture. Extremely well and expertly done.”
They’re like looking at their kids and saying behave with their eyes!
“The artist managed to make it glamorous at the same time accessible ❤ 👑,” wrote another. “Absolutely brilliant, 40 has never looked so good!” another person remarked. William turned 40 on June 21. Meanwhile, Kate turned 40 in January 2022. Another described William and Kate’s portrait with three words: “Regal, elegant, and gorgeous!”
Some took notice of William’s stance with one foot out to the side and a hand in his pocket. “I’ve never seen William stand like that! But I think I love it! ❤️,” one person wrote. Another called it his “GQ model” pose.
As for why William and Kate’s joint portrait might look familiar, Vogue reported the Duchess of Cambridge is wearing the same Vampire’s Wife gown she wore during a 2020 Guinness factory visit.
The artist set out for Kate Middleton and Prince William to appear ‘relaxed and approachable’
In a statement, Coreth opened up about painting Kate and William’s joint portrait. He shared his goal was for them to appear “relaxed and approachable, as well as elegant and dignified.”
Calling to experience the “most extraordinary privilege” of his life, Coreth added he wanted the portrait to “evoke a feeling of balance between their public and private lives.”
After three years on display at the Fitzwilliam Museum, William and Kate’s joint portrait will be moved to other locations around Cambridge. In 2023, it will also go on display at the National Portrait Gallery.
