Kate Middleton celebrated her 40th birthday on January 9, and her children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis — made sure she looked her best for her birthday tribute.
The Duchess of Cambridge welcomed her 40s in glamorous style with a trio of amazing portraits courtesy of Paolo Roversi, the popular Italian fashion photographer known for his work with Vogue. Roversi revealed that the duchess' husband, Prince William, 39, and their three children — Prince George, 8, Princess Charlotte, 6, and Prince Louis, 3 — helped decide on one of the photos that Kensington Palace released to the public.
The photo in question shows a stunning black-and-white close-up shot of Kate against a neutral background. The duchess is in a one-shoulder dress with a ruffled neckline. Her wavy hair is over her shoulders, and her smile looks as dazzling as ever. Roverso described the close-up photo as one "where a carefree girl returns."
Two other photos were released to commemorate the Duchess of Cambridge's birthday. One is a black-and-white photo of Kate sitting in a side profile pose that "is regal and has a maturity that goes beyond her age."
Pic credit: Paolo Roversi
This traditional pose is commonly used by the royal family in their portraits. She is dressed in a sheer off-the-shoulder ball gown that is tied with bows and ribbons on her shoulders. Kate is also wearing the sapphire engagement ring that previously belonged to Prince Williams' late mother, Princess Diana. Roversi added that Kate's white dress "dampens the seriousness of an effigy."
Pic credit: Paolo Roversi
The third is a colored photo showing Kate in a deep red one-shoulder gown with a poofy sleeve that focuses on the duchess' bare right shoulder. The ballgown came with pockets where Kate kept her hands for the fun yet stylish pose. This look is "a little more glamorous," according to the photographer.
He also shared that he wanted to show three "different" sides of Kate in the set of portraits. Roversi used "only natural light, little makeup, and no hairstyle" for the "contemporary" photos.
Pic credit: Paolo Roversi
According to Kensington Palace, the three photos will also be displayed in places that hold "special meaning" to the Duchess of Cambridge. These include Berkshire, where Kate grew up. The portraits will also be seen in St. Andrews, where Kate and William first met, and in Anglesey, where the then newlywed couple spent some time in a rented cottage.
The Duchess of Cambridge took to Twitter to show her appreciation for the "very kind birthday wishes" on her special day.