The Duchess of Cambridge attended the glamorous 2019 Portrait Gala at her patronage the National Portrait Gallery tonight.
The scene outside the National Portrait Gallery tonight.
Tonight marks the third time Kate has attended the gala.
Funds raised will directly support the National Portrait Gallery's work. This year, the Portrait Gala will support Inspiring People: Transforming our National Portrait Gallery, a project for the complete renewal of the gallery that will see a significant refurbishment of the building.
Kensington Palace said: "In addition to the work at St Martin’s Place, Inspiring People will also see the gallery’s most extensive programme of activities nationwide with plans to engage audiences’ onsite, locally, regionally and online. Activity includes a UK-wide schools programme for teaching history and art, a national skills-sharing collaboration with other museums and galleries and new partnerships with organisations throughout the country. As part of this programme the gallery will work with museums in Cornwall, Coventry, Sheffield and Southampton on the Creative Connections project; a co-curated exhibition programme for young people, which will result in students creating new art works alongside artists and a display of portraits from the gallery’s collection at each venue."
The major transformation will mark the gallery's biggest development since its opening in 1896.
The proposed new entrance and forecourt on the North Façade of the Gallery will create a more welcoming and generous entrance and relieve the existing congested visitor access.
More from the NPG: "The project provides the unique opportunity to re-display the entire Collection as well as upgrade the gallery spaces, while celebrating the existing architecture and decorative features. Maintaining a chronological approach, this comprehensive top-to-bottom re-hang will display works that are relevant to a wider range of audiences and present missing or hidden stories from British history. Set amongst the Gallery’s best-loved paintings will be more works from our collection of 250,000 photographs, ranging from 1840 to the present day."
Kate with Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the NPG.
Mr Cullinan introduced Kate to a group involved in 'Inspiring People'.
The Duchess met members of the gallery’s Youth Forum and viewed artwork produced by some of the National Portrait Gallery’s outreach programmes.
Kate met a selection of guests.
Including British Vogue's editor-in-chief Edward Enninful.
More from The Mirror:
'The art-loving mum-of-three has said she wants five-year-old Prince George to experience the National Portrait Gallery. The revelation came as she spoke to members of the gallery's youth forum before its 2019 Portrait Gala on Tuesday evening .
Forum member Savanna Achampong said afterwards: "She (Kate) said she was thinking of bringing George here. "She said that maybe she could speak to us so we could recommend what paintings they should come and see. "She was really genuine and down to earth, really nice."
Fellow forum member Isabella Titherington, 18, said she spoke to the duchess about how galleries can seem "inaccessible and intimidating" to young people. She added: "She did agree that sometimes galleries can seem inaccessible to younger generations and it is good to open them up to that demographic."
Guests included David and Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss and Bianca Jagger.
Princess Beatrice was also in attendance with her boyfriend Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
When the Duchess attended the 2014 Portrait Gala she donned her much-loved sweeping, ink-blue Jenny Packham gown teamed with the Queen's dazzling Nizam of Hyderabad necklace.
In 2017, it was an elegant dark green lace Temperley London gown.
Tonight, Kate chose a very familiar Alexander McQueen gown.
The Duchess first wore the off-the-shoulder black gown with floral print and tiered skirt for the BAFTA Awards in 2017. As you can see, it appears the gown has undergone quite a bit of alternation since. It looks like the piece has been substantially reworked with the bodice replaced and cap sleeves added. You'll notice the flower placement is different on the new bodice. Fashion experts on social media believe elements of the skirt are different too; suggesting it may be a new piece entirely. It's something of a mystery for the moment. Certainly, it would seem more likely the original has been repurposed.
It appears Kate wore her Jimmy Choo Cosmic pumps. The black suede shoes have been a staple in her closet since 2011.
Kate accessorised with her statement Kiki McDonough morganite earrings. Kate first wore the £7,000 special edition pair for Pippa's wedding.
And carried her black Prada clutch.
If you're just joining us, click here to view today's earlier post covering Kate's visit to the Henry Fawcett centre.
The Palace confirmed we'll see William and Kate on Sunday for St Patrick's Day and announced another engagement for Kate on Monday. Here's an overview of Kate's calendar:
17 March - The Duke of Cambridge, Colonel of the Irish Guards, accompanied by The Duchess of Cambridge, will visit the 1st Battalion Irish Guards at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Cavalry Barracks, Hounslow.
19 March - The Duchess of Cambridge will join the Queen to open Bush House, King's College London.
19 March - The Duchess of Cambridge will visit the Foundling Museum to understand how they use art to make a positive contribution to society by engaging with vulnerable and marginalised young people.
What do you think of Kate's reworked McQueen gown?
