The Duchess of Cambridge is planning to kick off her support for the nation’s art scene by attending one of the most anticipated shows of the year – Lucian Freud at the National Portrait Gallery.
In a time of dwindling arts funding, the news earlier this year that Kate Middleton was to become a patron of the gallery - and arts charity The Art Room - was a welcome boost for the industry.
A graduate in Art History, Kate will begin her role supporting the National Portrait Gallery by taking a tour of what the late painter called “the people in my life”.
A royal aide told The Telegraph that the Duchess plans to be active ‘both publically and privately’ in her role.
Lucian Freud: Portraits opens on 9 February and will run until 27 May. Focusing on his development in portraiture over 70 years, it was a project planned closely with the artist himself until his death in July 2010.
Of the 100 or so works on show, Kate Middleton might be most interested in Freud's 2001 portrait of her grandmother-in-law, the Queen, which will be going on tour this year but will briefly join Freud's other famous work at the National Portrait Gallery.
In a break from traditional portraits of royalty, Freud’s painting was authentic to the point of being unflattering. At least Kate, unlike most of us, will be able to tell how true to life it actually is.