Kate giggles with music royalty as she unveils £40m revamp of gallery
The Princess of Wales met with music royalty as she officially reopened a London gallery after a huge £40million three-year renovation project.
Kate ventured into central London this morning to visit the National Portrait Gallery, where she toured the revamped building alongside the likes of artist Tracey Emin and even Beatle Sir Paul McCartney.
The iconic musician, dressed in his customary suit and trainers, greeted the princess with a handshake and introduced Kate to his wife, Nancy.
The princess got the giggles as 'Macca', 81, who has his own photographic exhibition opening there next week featuring images he personally took at the start of Beatlemania between 1963 and 1964, joked about whether she or his wife would have even been born then. Kate clearly wouldn’t have been but at 63, his wife reassured him that she had.
Kate giggles with Sir Paul McCartney and wife Nancy Shevell (PA)"Hello, nice to meet you too," the princess said. McCartney told her that the NPG staff "had been amazing here, really they’ve been great".
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"It's amazing how long the planning is, how many conversations happen pre-everything," Kate replied. "That's true," the star said.
Explaining a little more about his exhibition, McCartney said it focused on a very specific period, 1963 to 1964. "When you weren’t even born", he said, smiling, to the royal. Turning to his wife he added: "Oh, you weren’t either."
Nancy laughingly looked upwards and counted before replying that she very much had been. Kate was keen to ask McCartney how he was able to choose "what pieces you wanted in there".
Sir Paul has an exhibition at the gallery (PA)The encounter, in the unprepossessing surroundings of the gallery's gift shop, was a last minute addition to the princess's schedule given that McCartney - whose exhibition is entitled Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64 Eyes of the Storm’ - was in town.
Kate arrived at the gallery close to Trafalgar Square wearing an elegant £450 dress by the brand Self Portrait as well as heels by Aquazzura.
Before entering the gallery to view its extensive renovations, she was greeted by Jamie Fobert, the architect behind the project, and the famous artist Tracey Emin, who has created new artwork for the gallery's doors.
Kate joins an art class for youngsters (PA)Once inside, she visited the Mildred and Simon Palley Learning Centre, where she joined a class of nursery children taking part in a Beatrix Potter-themed art class.
She also had the opportunity to view some of the gallery's new acquisitions Joshua Reynolds' Portrait of Mai.
Kate, patron of the gallery also viewed Yevonde: Life and Colour, a new exhibition which explores the life and career of Yevonde, the pioneering London photographer who spearheaded the use of colour photography in the 1930s.
Kate stands in front of Joshua Reynolds's portrait of Mai (Omai) (centre) during a visit to re-open the National Portrait Gallery (PA)Before leaving she met Sir Paul, who has an exhibition opening at the gallery, as well as his wife Nancy.
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Kate's appearance in London today comes after she dazzled in polka dots as she proudly supported King Charles, Queen Camilla and Prince William at Garter Day today.
It was the first annual Garter procession of Charles' reign and is one of the most colourful events of the royal calendar.
Kate with artist Tracey Emin and project architect Jamie Fobert (Getty Images)It sees royals and others donning the grand velvet robes and plumed hats for a procession from the castle to St George's Chapel for a private service before they return in horse-drawn carriages.
Kate, as well as the Duchess of Edinburgh, watched the procession from the sidelines as they are not members of the order, but attend each year to lend their support.
Kate admires the new doors on the gallery (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
Kate wore a dress by Self Portrait (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)For the occasion, Kate wore a polka dot dress by Alessandra Rich and a black and white hat by Philip Treacy and could be seen beaming as she spotted William in the procession.
After the ceremony in the chapel they then joined the other royals in a carriage procession back to Windsor Castle.
The Most Noble Order of the Garter is the oldest British order of chivalry and the world's oldest national order of knighthood still in existence. It was established by King Edward III nearly 700 years ago.
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