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Kate Middleton, Duchess Of Cambridge, Visits National Portrait Gallery (PICTURES)

LOOK: Kate Middleton Visits The National Portrait Gallery
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The Duchess of Cambridge has spoken of the power of art to change people's lives in a speech to celebrate the work of one of her charities.

Kate told an audience of 250 artists, schoolchildren and supporters of The Art Room, of which she is patron, that it felt "incredibly special" to be at the National Portrait Gallery in London tonight to celebrate the work of the charity.

The Art Room, which uses art to increase children's self-confidence and independence, was marking its 11th anniversary and launching a new fundraising campaign at the event, attended by artists including Marc Quinn and Jenny Savile.

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Kate Middleton Visits The National Portrait Gallery
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(01 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(02 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(03 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(04 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(05 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London, to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday April 24, 2013. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Tim P. Whitby/PA Wire (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(06 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(07 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London, to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday April 24, 2013. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Tim P. Whitby/PA Wire (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(08 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(09 of48)
Open Image Modal
The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(10 of48)
Open Image Modal
The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(11 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London, to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(12 of48)
Open Image Modal
The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London, to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(13 of48)
Open Image Modal
The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London, to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(14 of48)
Open Image Modal
The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London, to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(15 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London, to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(16 of48)
Open Image Modal
The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London, to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(17 of48)
Open Image Modal
The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London, to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(18 of48)
Open Image Modal
The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London, to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(19 of48)
Open Image Modal
The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London, to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(20 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London, to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(21 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London, to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(22 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London, to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(23 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge speaks during a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, London, to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(24 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London, to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(25 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge speaks during a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, London, to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(26 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge views a painting of her husband the Duke of Cambridge and brother-in-law Prince Harry, accompanied by National Portrait Gallery director Sandy Nairne and Art Room charity founder Juli Beattie (right) during a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, London, to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(27 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(28 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday April 24, 2013. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: John Stillwell/PA Wire (credit:PA)
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The Duchess of Cambridge speaks with children during an evening reception to celebrate the work of the charity The Art Room at the National Portrait Gallery, London. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(30 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge passes a painting of her husband, the Duke of Cambridge, at the National Portrait Gallery in London, during an evening reception to celebrate the work of the charity The Art Room. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(31 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge views a painting of her husband the Duke of Cambridge and brother-in-law Prince Harry, accompanied by National Portrait Gallery director Sandy Nairne and Art Room charity founder Juli Beattie (right) during a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, London, to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(32 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge arriving for a visit the National Portrait Gallery, London, to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday April 24, 2013. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Toby Melville/PA Wire (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(33 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge leaves after a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(34 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge after a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(35 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge leaves after a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(36 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge after a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(37 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge leaves after a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(38 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge leaves after a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(39 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge leaves after a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
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The Duchess of Cambridge (centre, right) leaves past photographers after an evening reception to celebrate the work of the charity The Art Room, of which she is a patron, at the National Portrait Gallery in London. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(41 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge leaves after a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(42 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge leaves after a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(43 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge leaves after a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(44 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge leaves after a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday April 24, 2013. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire (credit:PA)
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The Duchess of Cambridge reacts during a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, London, to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(46 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge leaves after a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(47 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge leaves after a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. (credit:PA)
Kate visit to the National Portrait Gallery(48 of48)
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The Duchess of Cambridge leaves after a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, London to celebrate the work of The Art Room charity. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday April 24, 2013. See PA story ROYAL Kate. Photo credit should read: Toby Melville/PA Wire (credit:PA)

Kate, wearing a duck-egg blue empire-line Emilia Wickstead cocktail dress and dusky blue heels, said: "I am a firm believer in the power of art to make a difference and The Art Room is doing that on a daily basis.

"We all stand here tonight to celebrate this wonderful work.

"I hope that you will join me in congratulating The Art Room and their supporters on these extraordinary achievements.

"As patron of The Art Room, I feel immense pride to see the amazing work that they are doing but I also feel hugely excited to look to a future with more Art Rooms, where many more challenging and vulnerable children will be helped."

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The Duchess, who wore her hair half up, is also patron of the National Portrait Gallery - and a portrait of her is currently on display at the venue.

Kate, an art history graduate, said: "I always love coming to the National Portrait Gallery so to be here tonight for an evening to celebrate The Art Room makes it feel incredibly special.

"When I have been fortunate enough to join Art Room sessions, I have been overwhelmed by the transformational impact they have.

"Vulnerable children flourish in the safe havens that the Art Room provide."

The Duchess spoke to children who use the Art Room facilities in London and Oxford and accompanied some of them on a private tour of a Man Ray exhibition at the gallery.

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