Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton has described her first official royal portrait, which was created by a Glasgow-born painter, as “amazing”.
The stunning 30-year-old’s features were captured in a creation by award-winning artist Paul Emsley, after the National Portrait Gallery commissioned the piece.
Kate Middleton had a certain glow about her Friday morning.
The pregnant Duchess of Cambridge attended the unveiling of her first official portrait at the National Portrait Gallery on Jan. 11, accompanied by husband Prince William and her family -- parents Carole and Michael and siblings James and Pippa.
"I thought it was brilliant… Amazing… Absolutely brilliant," she told curators of the portrait, created by Glasgow-born, South African-raised artist Paul Emsley.
The beaming Duchess wore a burgundy Whistles dress that only revealed the slightest hint of her baby bump.
Middleton, 31, and William, 30, spent 10 minutes privately observing the painting before joining Emsley and his wife and daughter for a breakfast reception at the gallery.
"It's just amazing, I thought it was brilliant," William said, according to the UK's Telegraph.
Emsley, who has previously painted Nelson Mandela, explained that he took a few artistic liberties with the portrait.
"I altered the color of the eyes slightly to match the color of the blouse," he said in a video about the making of the portrait. "I'm interested in the landscape of the face … anything else in there is really just an interference."
The portrait is currently displayed beside a Sam Taylor-Wood photo of a nearly-naked, sleeping David Beckham, which will soon be moved to another part of the exhibit space.
The outing marks the Duchess' first official public appearance since handing out awards at a top British sports awards show in December.
