The Princess of Wales stepped out in London today for the reopening of her patronage, the National Portrait Gallery.
Kate officially became patron in 2012. As a history of art graduate with a love of photography, it seemed a very natural choice. The gallery holds the most extensive collection of portraits in the world. The collection is displayed in London and in a number of locations around the United Kingdom. Artists range from Holbein to Hockney, and it includes work across all media, from painting and sculpture to photography and video. As well as the permanent displays, the gallery has a diverse and ever-changing programme of exhibitions and events which promote an appreciation of portraiture in all forms.
The Princess arriving.
The Princess of Wales is reopening the National Portrait Gallery in London this morning after a three-year refurbishment. Among the guests at the gallery today is Sir Paul McCartney, who has an exhibition opening shortly. pic.twitter.com/g0B8dIwGSd
— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) June 20, 2023
The gallery and its staff experienced quite the upheaval due to an extensive and much-needed refurbishment. The three-year project is considered the "biggest transformation" the gallery has undergone since 1896.
Meticulous work has seen a redisplay of the collection in beautifully refurbished galleries, including more than fifty new acquisitions and the restoration of the Grade I listed building.
It will reopen to the public on Thursday. In the meantime, today's official reopening offered a glimpse into the incredible completed project.
A sneak-peek from Kensington Palace.
A sneak peak inside the refreshed and reopened National Portrait Gallery ✨ pic.twitter.com/5zKFB2NBYP
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) June 20, 2023
Kensington Palace said: "On the gallery’s forecourt, the Princess met Jamie Fobert, Project Architect, and award-winning artist Tracey Emin, who was commissioned to create an artwork for the gallery’s new doors, incorporating 45 carved brass panels, representing ‘every woman, throughout time."
Inside, the Princess enjoyed a visit to the Mildred and Simon Palley Learning Centre, which has been described as an integral part of the redevelopment. As a result, the provision for under-5s has been doubled. Kate spoke to the team about the gallery's programme for young children.
Then, Kate joined in a Beatrix Pottery sensory workshop. Kensington Palace added: "Launching in September, the Under 5s programme, which has been developed in partnership with the London Borough of Westminster family hubs and local state nurseries, will welcome families from the local community to the gallery and encourage creative learning, play and exploration."
The gallery’s developed an under fives programme. pic.twitter.com/MwIuGycxfZ
— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) June 20, 2023
It was exciting for Kate to see several of the gallery's new acquisitions including Joshua Reynolds’ Portrait of Mai (Omai). Art critic John Russell described Reynolds as "one of the major European painters of the 18th century".
The piece is considered (by many) to be the finest work produced by the British artist. It was acquired jointly by the gallery and Getty following a major fundraising campaign. Both institutions will share the painting.
Kate spent time in Yevonde: Life and Colour, a new exhibition which explores the life and career of Yevonde, the pioneering London photographer who spearheaded the use of colour photography in the 1930s.
The exhibition features works from a sixty-year career. Yevonde was in fact born Yevonde Philone Middleton.
Below, a self-portrait of the artist.
More from the gallery:
'Yevonde: Life and Colour tells the story of a woman who gained freedom through photography – as she experimented with her medium and blazed a new trail for portrait photographers. The exhibition features portraits and still-life works produced by Yevonde over a colourful sixty-year career, and draws on the archive of her work acquired by the Gallery in 2021, as well as extensive new research by our teams.
Yevonde: Life and Colour is supported by The CHANEL Culture Fund, and builds on Reframing Narratives: Women in Portraiture, a major partnership project that aims to enhance the representation of women in the Gallery’s Collection.'
Kate was delighted to chat with none other than Sir Paul McCartney. The former 'Beatle' is the subject of an exhibition at the gallery which chronicles his life in the illustrious band through the height of Beatlemania in never before seen images.
OMG!!! The Princess of Wales meeting Sir Paul McCartney at the reopening of the National Portrait Gallery 🥹😭🎶pic.twitter.com/TgMgbaY6C6
— Fifi ❤️ The Waleses / Cambridges 🇺🇸🇳🇮🇬🇧 (@hellen3030) June 20, 2023
More from the Mail:
'Kate, 41, met the Beatles hero and his wife Nancy as she visited the gallery this morning to officially re-open it following a three-year restoration project.
She had a fit of the giggles as ‘Macca’, 81, who has his own photographic exhibition opening there next week focusing on The Beatles in 1963-64, joked about whether his wife would have been born then. At 63, she would have been born in 1959 and reassured him she had been'.
The plaque.
Kate selected a favourite brand of hers, the aptly named Self-Portrait, for the National Portrait Gallery reopening today.
The Metallic Bouclé and Chiffon Midi Dress is described as "pleated bouclé-top midi dress from SELF-PORTRAIT featuring ivory white, black, panelled design, bouclé design, chiffon, crystal embellishment, contrasting trim, pleat detailing, belted waist, round neck, front button fastening, two chest patch pockets, two front patch pockets, long sleeves, buttoned cuffs and mid-calf length".
A closer look at the detailing; it looks quite Chanel-inspired.
Speaking of Chanel, Kate carried a classic black quilted wallet by the fashion house. It's probably not by coincidence as the Chanel Culture Fund is supporting the Yevonde exhibition.
Kate accessorised with her Heavenly pearl earrings.
The £90 pair remain available here. They are described as a "classic" and: "Crafted to a standard of quality, the reconstituted pearl and diamond look-alike stones create an heirloom-like appearance. An elegant and sophisticated choice that won't go unnoticed."
Kate completed the look with her Aquazzura bow 105 black suede pumps.
I think it very likely we'll see the Prince and Princess at Royal Ascot either tomorrow or Thursday.
This dress is a no for me. Earrings, shoes and purse great.Ali
ReplyDeleteForget about the clothes, Catherine got to meet Paul McCartney!!!!!!! My favorite Beatle 😍😍😍
ReplyDeleteBorder Terrier lover
I love the Beatles, too. If you haven't seen Paul in concert you should try to go to a show. It is amazing to see three generations at his concerts. Paul gives a wonderful performance and is a fantastic storyteller. I am envious of anyone at this event meeting Kate and Paul on the same day.
DeleteThey both look wonderful. Catherine is beautiful and Paul is a snazzy dresser.
I'm delighted that the National Portrait Gallery is reopening, and of course it's been the perfect patronage for the Princess. She read art history at St Andrews, though she wrote her thesis on photography, as I recall. As someone whose work often involves art, particularly portraits, I am always interested in the Gallery's holdings and exhibitions.
ReplyDeleteTracey Emin's doors make a very interesting nod to the art-historical past while thoroughly updating the concept. And that Reynolds really is the best of his work -- I am not an enormous Reynolds fan, but he outdid himself there. Painting white, cream, and ivory draperies effectively is very difficult, though a few 17th-century artists were known for their expertise in that area. I'd say Reynolds managed to equal them in this portrait. I'm a little apprehensive about allowing the painting to travel back and forth between the NPG and the Getty, with which I was associated for a while. However, given the price of fine art these days, joint ownership may become standard.
On to clothes. I'm fond of belted jackets over skirts, so I very much like Self-Portrait's dresses that give the illusion of separates. I also find them more sophisticated than many SP offerings, which strike me as too frilly or juvenile (or short) for my tastes. This is a very nice look on the Princess; the black and white theme is elegant and classic, as is the inspiration from Chanel.
But I'm still having fits over her hair! It's just too long, in my view, and the curls are looking limp and messy. She'd look so much more polished if she just had a few inches trimmed off.
I wanted to mention that I finally snagged a pair of those shoes, but in a lower heel height -- 85 mm. Which reminds me: my remarks on the AR dress on the Garter Ceremony post seems not to have made it into the comments. I can never figure out why that happens and what I'm doing wrong.
I thought her hair looked better a couple of years ago. It was shorter and had the bigger bouncy curls.
DeleteNow you've Really got me curious!! Vittoria, if you don't mind, might I ask you about your work? You are so knowledgeable & you mentioned you work with art..... I'm intrigued! If not, I totally understand.
DeleteI'm a historian, Becca. I've done some work on royal patronage of the arts, because one of my fields of specialization is 16th and 17th-century England -- not as late as Reynolds' period, but I am very familiar with his portraits.
DeleteI have no problem with the length but it looked messy today. Her usual „Chelsea blowout“ looks very styled. Todays curls were looked more like she slept on her braid.
DeleteOh Vittoria, that is Facinating!! I'm just brimming over with questions. Back when I was in grad school, I was the Director of Internship Consulting (back when I had to explain to companies "what" an internship was & how it was a win/win for them to be involved with one. lol ) But, while I just did it to pay the bills, while my husband was in his medical training, I cultivated a real interest in learning about the many jobs & careers people had. It was so interesting & that curiousness has never left me.
DeleteI can only imagine, that having a cup of tea with you would be absolutely captivating! :)
As usual a fine and appropriate ensemble but imo the dress doesn’t quite come together. My first gut reaction: 2-pc and the transparent fabric of the skirt and the top/jacket in boucle feel like a mismatch. OK, so it’s a dress, but looking at the fotos of the model, the skirt doesn’t look transparent - that puzzles me. subtracting my personal dislike of plissee, the transparenz and chiffon of the skirt still doesn’t feel right with the top, which looks like a jacket from classic Chanel suit. This may not be Kate’s mistake - apart from choosing the dress, in that case. How do you all see it?
ReplyDeleteI do love those knockout shoes!!
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My sentiments exactly, Nona! I rarely comment on the fashion but I'm not a fan of this dress. I like the jacket (and accessories) but that's it. Zora from Prague
DeleteI thought exactly the same - that this was a classic Chanel jacket, teamed with a SP skirt. Interesting that it is a single piece.
DeleteI had the same issues, I also find the lower fit of the jacket a bit off.
DeleteI love this look, very polished! A beautiful alternative to coat dresses that is a more modern design. It also suits Ks figure as she often looks too “bean pole” at times.
ReplyDeleteI love art!! So this engagement was very exciting to me! I cannot wait to see this once it opens and I make my way across the pond! This is definitely a must see when I go to London! As for The Princess and her wardrobe, beautiful and elegant! She is a class act for sure! 🖤🤍 Love this post Charlotte!!! Thank you 🥰
ReplyDeleteAnother day and another new outfit. I find the jacket all too busy metallic threads , embellished buttons , cuffs and seams . It looks like a thick jacket and out of keeping with the floaty skirt . Disappointed to see the skirt is see through . The shoes are divine but in my opinion better suited to evening wear .
ReplyDeleteDisappointed that Portrait don’t manufacture in the UK but China so not challenging UK manufacture .
Final thought over £3000 for a handbag very extravagant in the current economic climate
I really like this dress on Catherine today, except it's very similar to the one she wore twice last year - same design but with lapels and no black trim, which would have looked equally good with these accessories. If she likes a design there's no reason not to stick with it, but why (almost) buy it again?
ReplyDeleteExcellent choice to wear white for the museum opening. It graciously allows the focus to be on the museum and on the artwork. Fortunately, it also means that she doesn't clash with any of the colors. I'd love to visit the refurbished museum!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I like the side-view of the black shoes, I really don't like how they look from the back. For one thing, there isn't much space between the hemline of the midi dress and the tops of the black bat-wings on the heels of her shoes. Another reason is that I don't care for the amount of tan-colored shoe sole that shows when looking at the shoes from behind. I prefer the black stilettos worn by the model of the Self-Portrait dress, whose shoes have black soles. Does this bother anyone else?
I like the outfit…kind of ☺️ I first thought it was a jacket and skirt. I would like to see the dress with a black skirt. Something to me looks off with the texture of the jacket with the pleats of the skirt. I’d like to see it as just the jacket with a black trouser. Love the accessories. Looking forward to see what she wears at Royal Ascot.
ReplyDeleteJoanne in CA
I enjoyed reading about this engagement because the NPG is my favourite London art gallery. The outfit was okay, she looked princessy (if that's not a word, it should be). I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a children's hospice visit, as an area of interest chosen early on (before she had kids), I've wondered if she finds the visits too emotional, just because she doesn't visit much. That said, when she does go, I think she does a brilliant job. I can't blame her if she does find those visits haunting but I just think it must make such a difference.
ReplyDeleteI was reading something yesterday, where William was quoted (& I'm paraphrasing) "It's great to have the visits/events for the Homeless... but I much prefer going when there are no cameras around. It's not very genuine when you are only doing it for the cameras"
DeleteThis lead me to think about something I've wondered for quite a while, are William & Kate making visits when we Aren't seeing them? I think they are! So whether we see it or not, I wouldn't be surprised if Kate does visit a Children's Hospice this week.
I'm absolutely certain they do. They highlight the charities publicly as needed, but also visit and help out/donate privately. They don't need to be "Look at us - Lord and Lady Bountiful".
DeleteBec, very good point. Princess Diana was known to visit hospitals and hospice at night with no cameras. She thought her eldest son well. S.🙂.
DeleteAgree Becca, I think all of the RF do things behind the scenes, visit people who don’t want the attention the media would bring so they respect their wishes. Re this engagement, I am so envious she met Sir Paul! If you haven’t seen his ride along with James Corden on YouTube, it’s fabulous. They go to all the places in Liverpool that were made famous in Beatle songs and I discovered that Let It Be was a tribute to Paul’s mum Mary who died when he was a teen. The people of Liverpool came out in droves at every stop. It was lovely. I can’t wait to see the NPG on my next visit to London!!
DeleteI hope they make private visits. It’s the most horrid time in these people’s lives and I doubt they want cameras shoved in their faces.
DeleteBecca, they definitely make private visits. Sometimes we see photos or footage later. But even knowing that, it’s disappointing to see Kate carry out so few engagements these days. I agree a hospice visit would be very well received but she doesn’t do as much work for hospices as she used to. When Kate first married William I thought children’s end of life care would be one of the major themes of her public work since she used to do a lot more hospice visits, but she’s really pulled back from that, which is unfortunate.
DeleteI agree they probably do private visits but being Hospice week I believe she should have a public visit to one . Part of their role is to showcase their patronages and attract funds to them . Hospices like Air Ambulances receive no funding and both are needed at people’s darkest moments. There is so much more they should both be doing
DeleteBecca USA, you make a good point, I hadn't thought of that.
DeleteGreat jacket and shoes, but the skirt fabric doesn’t seem to match in terms of weight. Perhaps it just doesn’t photograph well, but the top and bottom seem to be for different seasons.
ReplyDeleteI have loved that the Princess of Wales is patron of the National Portrait Gallery, given her educational background and very personal interest in photographic portraiture. This renovation was truly an enormous undertaking. I love to emphasize the cause vs. the fashion, but feel compelled to say I love this dress: she looks professional and feminine, a balance that is sometimes challenging to reach. She seamlessly did so with her attire today. The boucle of the top portion of the dress looks so crisp against the floaty air of the skirt. The shoes are divine. It's interesting to read the other comments regarding critique of new vs. rewear, like vs. dislike of the entire look, etc. I feel she has a certain eye for style, and similar pieces grab her attention, and so we see things with similar elements but which aren't the same. I understand the politics of expensive clothing, but this is King Charles' coronation year, and it's only just over one month after his coronation. I don't find anything amiss with her sartorial choices. I do wish she'd give her hair a good chop, however. I feel so petty even saying it, honestly. It's not my hair, it's not my choice, and really, with all the things going on in the world, the last thing I feel like I should be concerned with is the length of the Princess of Wales' hair! (I'm smiling in chagrin right now)
ReplyDeletelol!!! :) Rebecca I'm smiling picturing you smiling! lol I loved your post & agree with what you said - the hair. I think she looks lovely whatever length her hair is.
DeleteI didn't get to post yesterday about her garter ceremony dress/ensemble... ( I really should go back & do that...) What I think, is that like you said, different things speak to different people. Just like she may find a clothing item she likes & buys it in several colors (I have to admit I do the same thing, much to my husband's bafflement! :)
I saw her dress yesterday in the same way. She has a brown dot dress & now she has a black dot dress. Both in a different style. Just my 2 cents.
I agree this is a year of firsts - first of the new reign and for her as Princess of Wales, so she is thinking of the historic record maybe. Whatever she wears, she looks fab.
DeleteBased on a couple recent photos, it appears that the princess needs to stand in front of a strong light and do a transparency check on her skirts before she goes out! Su
ReplyDeleteI spotted that. Definitely could of done with more lining or a thicker fabric. My first thought was she is lucky that the sun wasn't shining. S.🙂.
DeleteAbsolutely agree!
DeleteI don’t think the transparency is that much of a problem. But then I think her hemlines are way too long and her necklines way too high. There is nothing wrong with showing some leg or cleavage. Over 40. As future Queen.
DeleteMost Queens (to be) do. Even her late Majesty did so when she was young.
On one hand I love this look. Kate looks absolutely amazing (as always). On the other hand I have an impression I see another very similar look. She already has similar dressess im her possesion. Is it really necessary to buy next one? I hope she will rewear more of her clothes in the future as royal ladies in other countries often do.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to get to meet Paul McCartney! The little clip in the post was loads of fun and it was great to get a glimpse of the refurbishment. A wonderful art space now even better!
ReplyDeleteBut, like others, I am not much on today's ensemble. Loved the Chanel-inspired jacket, but the skirt part did not coordinate in terms of weight and was far too sheer. Very schizoid. Poorly conceived by the designer and a poor suggestion from Kate's stylist. The whole thing also struck me as being a bit "too much" for the occasion and not the flawless style Kate is usually known for.
This is a nice outfit. The top part reminds me of a wishful styling blog that had a Jenny Packham white knee length short sleeve dress with a similar aesthetic to this top. I loved that dress and wished Kate would wear it with a fabulous black hat similar to the style of yesterday. Some of the photos of today going into the door and waking through the hallway with her walking in were just stunning! Thank you Charlotte ;) Sue from IL
ReplyDeleteTestl
ReplyDeleteCharlotte , thanks for showing us an artist new to me , Yevonde . I agree with the others here that the dress comes across as two pieces. It looked odd.It was odd to me that the Princess wore two black and white theme dresses in row. I love her earrings.
ReplyDeleteI just watched the video of Catherine with Paul and Nancy, Catherine is so expressive with her hands, and Paul was a bit more also. It was fun to see. Ali
ReplyDeleteVery pretty outfit, she looks so elegant. Love the shoes.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize that the NPG had undergone such a lengthy renovation. Sir McCarthy was on several TV news programs at the beginning of the week on TV in the US. I was expecting that he would be there. I'm super appreciative of the other exhibitions Charlotte included. Should I be headed to London anytime soon, the NPG would definitely be on list to visit.
ReplyDeleteI agree with another posted, I would have liked to see the skirt in black versus the white. Of course I also agree wearing white for this event was the right choice. Which is why I would have chosen the previous SP ensemble she wore last year.
A visit to NPG is on my list of places to visit in London. I like Kate's look the SP dress that we have seen in other forms is lovely and she wears it well and I like all the accessories especially the shoes. I'm in agreeance with other commenters re the length of her hair a good few inches taken off the length would give it more bounce. On another note saw some photos of Zara and Beatrice at Ascot and love love love Zara's dress, looking forward to more Ascot looks this week. Sue in WA
ReplyDeleteElegance, chic, class.
ReplyDeleteLike many I first thought it was a jacket associated with a skirt, and then thanks to Charlotte's description I discovered that it was a dress. Original and intriguing !
The jacket part is really my favorite, the details, the shape, a beautiful and modern reinterpretation of the timeless Chanel.
The slightly wavy hairstyle, certainly due to yesterday's updo, gives a touch of movement to the whole thing. This is, I believe, my favorite outfit of 2023 !
It's also interesting to read the comments on the blog, to discover the range of opinions from around the world. Personally, I really appreciate it. 😉
Oh dear, that man interrupting the Princess and Sir Paul! Never, ever leave a Royal standing there, virtually ignored. Very bad form, buddy.
ReplyDeleteI like the dress. Perfect for the occasion. I like these earrings but why wear those when you have the Bahrain pearl earrings at home, especially for a big opening of a gallery. The Tracey Emin doors look amazing. No Princess at Ascot today, hopefully they will go tomorrow. S.🙂.
ReplyDeleteGreat venue. Love the Gallery. To the clothing. Color good. Wear either the dress or a suit but not this combo together. Or choose a different jacket so the stiff, formal cut doesn’t clash with the soft flowy bottom. There’s a way to dress in contrast but you have to make the clash flow cohesively. In this case, the cute bold styling of the buttons, piping and heavy textured jacket material were too much for the bottom.
ReplyDeleteThis is a test--I've never posted before and want to see if this works!
ReplyDeleteThe Princess of Wales is lovely as always. I love her Aquazzura pumps however I think a plain black pump would have looked lovely. My one recommendation would be for a custom lining. This dress and the green and white dress from the other day are a little too sheer. It reminds me of the infamous Princess Diana sheer skirt moment. Either way, the Princess of Wales is a beautiful, elegant lady. I adore her style and love following her and the causes near to her heart.
ReplyDeleteI have been waiting for their Ascot appearance. It is a shame how little we see of them as they are next in line to the throne. I admire Zara and Mike and appreciate their presence in the royal family. I wish we saw Kate and William with the children around them more.
ReplyDeleteI love the look. I adore that sort of hem on a pleated skirt...just slightly ruffly and floaty. Pleased skirts can look severe, but that lightens it up. Very summery. She looks happy and relaxed.
ReplyDeleteWith thanks to Gert's Royals, it's looking like we'll see William & Kate attend Royal Ascot tomorrow to present the Commonwealth Cup :)
ReplyDeleteCharlotte, will you please do a post on the touring of William, Kate, and George at Eton? I’m curious of the boarding situation and if they are looking at co-educational schools?
DeleteHello Anon, I will ask around about the visit. I wouldn't expect George to attend Eton for another few years. With the Windsor move and the choice of Lambrook, I think it very likely Eton is on the cards.
DeleteHello everyone. I have been lurking for YEARS but finally decided to join the fun. First, Charlotte does a truly magnificent job! I think this is the best site about Kate and I know that it is not easy to create content at such a high level and in a timely manner--thank you, Charlotte! Second, I really enjoy reading everyone's comments. It's a lot of fun to see the wide differences in what we like and don't like. I especially appreciate Vittoria's very informed observations--it makes sense that she is a trained art historian. Third, a tiny bit about me--I'm American and I'm here primarily for the clothes, but appreciate everything else. Finally, Kate--she has an impossible job to do and she does it very, very well. And I envy her clothing budget and the size of her closets!
ReplyDeleteWelcome Rooney K. You will be a fabulous addition to a wonderful group here :)
DeleteI don’t like this outfit. At first, like others, I thought it was two separate pieces. The structure and fabric of the jacket do not go with the flowey-ness of the skirt. Finding out it’s a dress makes it even worse lol! I do like them as separate pieces though! Love the earrings, and always love those shoes… In any color!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the nice post Charlotte. Thank you Vittoria for the historical art context. I think Kate looks elegant in the Chanel outfit but it is not my favourite think its the skirt for me . I noticed Kate is playing a lot with her hair I think it I more from nerves than from length personally. Kind of like how King Charles used to adjust his collar a lot when he was Prince of Wales. Kate needs a different lipstick though this one has worn off and you can only see the lip liner which is not a great look. Cool she met Sir Paul McCartney he is a great guy and one of the best concerts I ever went to. He still has the magic.
ReplyDelete