Duchess of Cambridge dazzles in recycled Alexander McQueen dress as she joins the Beckhams and Kate Moss for a glittering gala evening at the National Portrait Gallery

The Duchess of Cambridge wowed in a recycled Alexander McQueen evening dress tonight at a star studded black-tie gala at London’s National Portrait Gallery. Kate, 37, outshone socialites, fashion gurus and supermodels who gathered for the A-lister fundraiser in the floor-length belted gown embroidered with small white flowers. It was the same dress the duchess wore when she attended the BAFTAS in February 2017, but the off-the-shoulder gown had been refashioned to include sleeves. Tonight, Kate teamed it with a pink morganite and diamond earrings by Kiki McDonough and a Prada clutch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kate was in vibrant mood as she mingled with stars such as ex-England football captain David Beckham and his fashion designer wife Victoria, Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss and Bianca Jagger. But she wasn’t the only royal at the glittering event; her husband Prince William’s cousin, Princess Beatrice attended as a guest with her partner Edoardo Mapelli Mozi for the first time. The couple, who have been tipped to wed, were hosted by Philippe Ghanem and Sabine Getty, a socialite and Swiss-norm jewellery designer.

Princess Margaret’s son Lord Snowdon, David Linley, also attended the event while other star guests included One Direction pop star Liam Payne, fashion designer Oswald Boateng and legendary British photojournalist and war photographer, Sir Don McCullin CBE, who was accompanied by his wife Catherine Fairweather. It was the third time that Kate, Patron of the National Gallery, has attended the annual fundraising gala.

On arrival she was met by Westminster’s Deputy Lord Lieutenant Dr. Paul Knapman and National Portrait Gallery Director Dr Nicholas Cullinan. Inside she was also introduced to chairman of the Trustee Board for the gallery David Ross and Edward Enninful OBE, Chairman of the Gala Committee. Afterwards the Duchess chatted to youth team staff Liz Smith and Helen White. Kate, who studied at the British Institute in Florence and the University of St Andrews, also chatted to members of the galleries Youth Forum and viewed art produced by the gallery’s outreach programmes.

She met youth team members Hannah Ladmore, Isabella Titherington, Savanna Achampong and Perpetual Png. Funds raised on the night go towards a project for the complete renewal of the gallery that will see a significant refurbishment of the building. Kate was also told of 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 coll aboration 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. new art works alongside artists and a display of portraits from the Gallery’s Collection at each venue. The gallery is home to Paul Emsley's infamous 2012 painting of Kate, her first official portrait which received mixed reviews when it was unveiled just over six years ago.

She posed for the artist at his studio in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, followed by another sitting at Kensington Palace in London. He also worked from a series of photos he took of the duchess. Kate has been royal patron of the National Portrait Gallery since 2012 and last year she wrote a foreword for its Victorian Giants: The Birth of Art Photography exhibition catalogue, and captions for selected images in the show. In March 2018 she became the first ever royal patron of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, a role that reflects her interest in the visual arts, photography, design and textiles. The Duchess is also a keen photographer, and an Honorary Member of the Royal Photographic Society. This is the third gala evening that Kate has attended in her role as royal patron of the National Gallery and, as in previous years, the funds raised will help support its work.