Kate Middleton looks straight out of a fairytale in stunning new portraits for her 40th birthday

Publish Date
Sunday, 9 January 2022, 12:39PM

Kate Middleton is celebrating turning the big 4-0 in stunning style.

Today marks the Duchess of Cambridge's 40th birthday and to commemorate the milestone, Kensington Palace has released three dazzling new portraits of the birthday girl.

The royal mum-of-three looks absolutely flawless in the beautiful photos - which were taken in November at London's Kew Gardens by photographer Paolo Roversi.

In two intimate and timeless black-and-white pictures, Kate delivers a vintage vibe in elegant chiffon gowns.

She completed the look with Princess Diana's Collingwood pearl and diamond earrings.

While in the side-on portrait her iconic sapphire engagement ring, also previously belonging to Prince William's late mother, is on display.

The Duchess goes for full-on glam in another eye-catching colour shot, looking into the camera with her hand resting in the pocket of a one-shoulder red satin dress with a dramatic sleeve.

She accessorised the look with diamond earrings from Queen Elizabeth's collection.

The stylish photographs mark a dramatic departure from images we are more used to seeing of the Duchess in formal poses or surrounded by her family.

The dresses are all by Alexander McQueen, the same design house that created Kate's wedding dress in 2011.

The portraits will enter the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery, of which Kate is Patron. 

The new photos will be displayed over the course of 2022 in three places that hold special meaning to her: Berkshire, St. Andrews and Anglesey.

Kate grew up in Bucklebury, Berkshire, while St. Andrews is an important spot for both Kate and Prince William as they met as freshmen at the University of St. Andrews in 2002.

And Anglesey is where the couple lived after their royal wedding in 2011. 

Kate will reportedly spend her birthday privately amid the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases across the U.K.

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