The portraits were taken by Italian fashion photographer Paolo Roversi, a regular contributor to Vogue who has photographed campaigns for Dior, Yves Saint Laurent and Valentino. The images show Catherine wearing three different dresses from one of her favourite British fashion houses, Alexander McQueen.In two of the portraits, the Duchess wears pearl and diamond earrings that belonged to her mother-in-law Princess Diana. In another, she wears earrings loaned to her by the Queen. The Telegraph described the images of the future Queen as “era-defining”.In one portrait, the beautiful Duchess appears regal-like in a portrait that brings to mind the young Queen Victoria. Another shows her in a vibrant red dress while the third image of a smiling Catherine is reminiscent of Mario Testino’s famed photograph of Princess Diana. Photographer Paolo Roversi described working with Catherine as “a moment of pure joy”.He said the Duchess could “bring hope to the whole world” with her “positive energy”.Roversi said: “Taking the portrait of Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge was a true honour for me and a moment of pure joy.“I was moved by her warmth and friendly welcome and enchanted by her shining eyes that reflected the loveliness of her soul and her smile showing the generosity of her heart.“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.”The portraits will go on display this year in three areas — Berkshire, St Andrews and Anglesey — where Catherine has lived.The Duchess grew up in leafy Berkshire, went to university in St Andrews — where she met Prince William — and lived on the Welsh island of Anglesey as a newlywed. After going on display, the portraits will then be housed in the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery.Catherine is expected to celebrate her birthday this weekend with a typically low key celebration with her family. A Sunday Times profile to mark the Duchess’s birthday highlighted how Catherine supported her husband through the Megxit fallout as well as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s damning allegations of racism within the royal family. A close friend told The Sunday Times: “Kate has a way of calming William down and knows how to be really affectionate and gentle. But she is 100 per cent loyal to him and has a shaft of steel running up her back when she needs to deal with stuff that’s unpalatable.” One of William’s closest friends told The Sunday Times: “He has had a year from hell and she has been fantastic supporting him.”Catherine’s forties will be a decade of significant change, the BBC reports. As the Queen does less and works differently due to her age, so the Cambridges will do more.For the Duchess, that will mean a focus on raising issues around mental health, addiction and early childhood.A royal source close to the Cambridges told The Sunday Times: “She has been a hugely important factor in (Prince William) coming to terms with his destiny, how comfortable he has become with his role in the royal family as future monarch and the demands of that.”
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