Catherine, the Princess of Wales Attends the Reopening of the National Portrait Gallery

The National Portrait Gallery in London underwent extensive renovation work for three years since 2020, it is London's most-loved art gallery. It is considered the world's largest portrait collection.

Catherine, the Princess of Wales spearheaded the reopening on June 20, 2023 in her capacity Patron of the National Portrait Gallery. It will reopen its door to the public on June 22, 2023.

Catherine viewed portraits inside the newly refurbished National Portrait Gallery ©Prince and Princess of Wales IG

Catherine viewed portraits inside the newly refurbished National Portrait Gallery ©Prince and Princess of Wales IG

Catherine visited The Mildred and Simon Palley Learning Center, then later joined the nursery children taking part in the multi-sensory workshop.

During her visit, the Princess of Wales had the opportunity to see one of the gallery's most recent acquisitions, Joshua Reynolds' Portrait of Mai (Omai).

Catherine reopened National Portrait Gallery. ©Prince and Princess of Wales IG 

The artwork, which was widely regarded as the finest portrait produced by one of Britain's finest artists, was jointly acquired by the gallery and the Getty Museum this year following a historic fundraising campaign.

Catherine then viewed the gallery's reopening exhibition, Yevonde: Life and Color - supported by the Chanel Culture Fund, which explores the life and career of pioneering photographer: Yevonde.

Later, Catherine met Sir Paul McCartney and his wife, Nancy McCartney, ahead of his major exhibition - Paul McCartney Photographs1963-1964: Eyes of the Storm, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies. 

with Sir Paul McCartney and his wife, Nancy ©National Portrait Gallery IG

Sir Paul McCartney's photographs offer a personal perspective on what it was like to be a Beatle at the start of the "Beatle Mania".

For her visit, Catherine wore a midi skirt with matching long sleeves from Self-portrait, a pair of slingback suede pumps from Aquazzura, and carrying a black clutch from Chanel.