Kate Middleton turns 40 on Sunday, January 9, and for the occasion, The National Portrait Gallery released three new, stunning photos of her.
You can see them all on the official Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Instagram page. One is an up-close black-and-white shot. Another has Middleton in a red, one-shoulder dress. And the last one, a black-and-white long shot (see here), actually contains some subtle tributes to Princess Diana.
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Eagle-eyed royals fans will notice the diamond and pearl drop earrings Middleton wears in the photo previously belonged to Princess Diana. Also, the Duchess of Cambridge is wearing that iconic sapphire engagement ring, another nod to her late mother-in-law.
Kate Middleton has frequently paid tribute to Princess Diana with her style and jewelry choices. We have an entire gallery of examples. Last July, a statue was unveiled in honor of the Princess of Wales on what would’ve been her 60th birthday. Prince William and Prince Harry reunited for the occasion.
“Today, on what would have been our mother’s 60th birthday, we remember her love, strength, and character—qualities that made her a force for good around the world, changing countless lives for the better,” Prince William and Prince Harry said in a statement, according to People.
The statement went on, “Every day, we wish she were still with us, and our hope is that this statue will be seen forever as a symbol of her life and her legacy.”
“Later this week my brother and I are recognizing what would have been our mum’s 60th birthday, and she would be so proud of you all for living an authentic life with purpose and with compassion for others,” Prince Harry said at the 2021 Diana Awards before the unveiling, according to Harper’s Bazaar. (The Diana Awards honors young activists.) “Our mum believed that young people have the power to change the world. She believed in your strength, because she saw it day in and day out. And in the faces of young people exactly like you, she witnessed a boundless enthusiasm and passion, and I, too, see those same values shine through.”
This story originally appeared on GLAMOUR US.