Prince William and Kate's first ever official joint portrait unveiled on visit to Cambridge

Prince William and Kate Middleton have been the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for over 11 years now.

But it was only today, the couple's first ever official joint portrait was unveiled.

Painted by award-winning British portrait artist Jamie Coreth, the artwork made its debut at the University of Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum during a visit by the couple to their name-sake city.

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"It has been the most extraordinary privilege of my life to be chosen to paint this picture," Coreth said in a statement.

"I wanted to show Their Royal Highnesses in a manner where they appeared both relaxed and approachable, as well as elegant and dignified.

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"As it is the first portrait to depict them together, and specifically during their time as The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, I wanted the image to evoke a feeling of balance between their public and private lives."

The painting shows the Duchess wearing her metallic green Vampire's Wife Falconetti dress, which she wore in Ireland in 2020.

This is accessorised with matching heels and pearl jewels.

The Duke looks dapper in the painting, dressed in a black suit with a blue tie.

It also features tones and colours in the background of many of the historical stone buildings that are synonymous with the City of Cambridge and includes the use of a hexagonal architectural motif which can be seen on buildings across the city.

The couple had the opportunity to view the painting during their visit to Fitzwilliam Museum on Thursday.

When William first saw the painting he said: "It's quite big".

He later told the artist it was "amazing".

While at the gallery, Kate and William met the painter and supporters of the project, including Lady Sibyl Marshall – the wife of the late Sir Michael Marshall, who originally proposed the idea to create the portrait.

The painting was commissioned in 2021 - the year of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's 10th wedding anniversary - by the Cambridgeshire Royal Portrait Fund, held by the Cambridge Community Foundation, as a gift to Cambridgeshire.

It will spend three years on display in the museum before it's exhibited in other community spaces and galleries around Cambridgeshire.

The painting will also be loaned to the National Portrait Gallery, of which the Duchess is Patron, for a short time in 2023 to mark the gallery's reopening.