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Kate Middleton Makes History as the First Royal Patron of London’s V&A Museum!
She can do it all! Kate Middleton may be just weeks away from welcoming her third little prince or princess into the world, but she’s still busy taking on the world… sorry, we mean new royal duties! Kate, 36, made history this week when she was announced as the first-ever royal patron of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Kensington Palace confirmed the exciting news with a Twitter statement on Monday, March 26. “The Duchess of Cambridge is to become the first Royal Patron of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Furthering Her Royal Highness’s interest in the visual arts, photography, and design, she formally takes up the [V&A] Patronage from today,” the message read. Although the museum has long enjoyed an association with the royal family, it has never had official support in the form of a patron.
Kate at the V&A Museum in 2017.
It’s a fitting role for the beloved royal who graduated from the University of St Andrews in 2005 with a degree in History of Art. Of course, it was during college that she met her future husband Prince William, who was enrolled in the same degree before switching to Geography. She’s also a keen amateur photographer, having released a handful of pictures to great acclaim including those from her tour of Southeast Asia and the South Pacific.
Published on Kate and Prince William‘s Facebook page, the images included everything from a black and white still of an orangutan to a misty shot of Borneo’s Mount Kinabalu. But the proud mom-of-two’s (soon-to-be three!) most recognizable shots are those of her children — Prince George, 4, and Princess Charlotte, 2.
Tristram Hunt, Director of the V&A, said in an official statement, “From its foundation by Prince Albert and Queen Victoria, the V&A has enjoyed a proud history of Royal support. We are delighted that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge has agreed to serve as Royal Patron of the museum.”
“The Duchess’s personal interest in photography, textiles, and the visual arts, alongside her support for the role of art in supporting mental health and nurturing young people’s creative talent, fits naturally with the collections and civic purpose of the V&A,” Hunt continued. The very pregnant royal last dropped by the iconic museum in June 2017, where she opened the museum’s new entrance, courtyard, and gallery on Exhibition Road.
Kate won’t be carrying out any engagements in the near future as she has just started maternity leave. Kate and William have stayed pretty tight-lipped on the details surrounding their third child, other than confirming the new arrival is due sometime in April. But according to a fresh report by UK paper The Sun, Duchess Catherine’s due date could fall on a very patriotic holiday.
The publication claims the royal couple will welcome their bundle of joy “on or around” St George’s Day on Monday, April 23. St George’s Day is celebrated by Christian denominations around the world and honors the Feast of Saint George. “There’s no certainty with due dates of course but the Duchess is working off a date around St George’s Day and it would be a lovely patriotic coincidence if he or she were born then,” an insider explained.
“Or if she’s very late, as she was with George’s birth, she could even make it a very special wedding anniversary present to William, as they celebrate seven years of marriage on April 29,” the source continued. To prepare royal watchers for Baby Cambridge, the Duke and Duchess have set up a website dedicated to Royal Baby updates. We’ll be watching with an eagle eye!
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This post was written by Candice Mehta-Culjak. It originally appeared on our sister site, Now to Love.
