THE Duchess of Cambridge is every inch the modern monarch in these stunning celebratory portraits.
All three looks are from one of Kate’s favourite designers, Alexander McQueen.
Since walking down the aisle in a dress created by the brand’s creative director Sarah Burton, Kate has been a big champion of the British label.
She’s worn McQueen no less than 20 times.
The bespoke off-the-shoulder dress with pleats and a nipped in waist is very similar to the lilac dress she wore to the Earthshot Awards back in October.
She accessories the regal look with the same pair of pearl drop earrings that Princess Diana wore for many of her most notable portraits, including the 1990 image by Terence Donovan.
It’s a subtle but poignant nod to her legacy.
The photo was inspired by Cecil Beaton’s photos of the Queen and Princess Margaret.
In a close up shot she wears a stunning tulle one-shoulder dress based on a gown designed by McQueen himself before his tragic suicide in 2010.
The piece is made up of hundreds of layers of silk recalling the ridging on the surface of a shell.
It’s the perfect choice for the Duchess who recycles her own clothes and uses her influence to send out a message about the importance of sustainability – an issue close to her heart.
The photo has echoes of Princess Diana’s famous shoot with Mario Testino, although it is understood not to be deliberate.
Kate’s more daring red, off-the-shoulder gown – a bespoke dress from this season – was picked to showcase the Duchess’ youthfulness and confidence.
She wears a pair of dazzling diamond earrings that belong to the Queen and are thought to have belonged to Her Majesty’s grandmother, Queen Mary.
While all looks are eye-catching there’s no sign of showing off.
There’s not a crown or tiara in sight which is a refreshing update for such portraits – but each look has its own very subtle glimpse of Kate’s flair for style.
Off-the-shoulder and one shoulder dresses with accentuated shoulders and detailing, give these photographs a real air of Hollywood glamour without being ostentatious.
Her classic look with contemporary necklines from these stunning gowns creates a fitting picture for a stamp.
They are all effortlessly graceful and amazing.
