An art lover, The Duchess of Cambridge, today arrived at Victoria and Albert Museum to unveil a new entrance and exhibition gallery in London.
The V&A is the world’s leading museum of art and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.3 million objects that span over 5,000 years of human creativity. The Museum holds many of the UK’s national collections and houses some of the greatest resources for the study of architecture, furniture, fashion, textiles, photography, sculpture, painting, jewellery, glass, ceramics, book arts, Asian art and design, theatre and performance.
The entrance and exhibition is the largest architectural project of the museum that is going to celebrate its 165th anniversary this year.
The V&A has its origins in 1951 when Prince Albert created “The Great Exhibition,” the first-ever international exhibition of manufactured products. Profits from this exhibition were used to create a new museum in London.
The Museum was called the Museum of Manufactures and was located in Marlborough House, then a royal residence. The increasing collection at the museum soon outgrew Marlborough House and was moved to its current site in South Kensington, it was renamed the South Kensington Museum.
On 17 May 1899, Queen Victoria laid the cornerstone of the new Aston Webb building of the museum, designed by Sir Aston Webb. In honour of Queen Victoria & Prince Albert’s years of support, the museum was renamed The Victoria & Albert Museum. This was Queen Victoria’s last official public appearance before her death. Queen Victoria’s address during the ceremony, as recorded in the London Gazette, ended:
“I trust that it will remain for ages a Monument of discerning Liberality and a Source of Refinement and Progress.”
The Duchess of Cambridge was welcomed by a little girl with a bouquet of roses at the entrance of the museum.
Later on, Catherine toured the museum and new area after meeting the designer of the new gallery and museum staff.
Catherine talked to the guests at the Museum.
The Duchess of Cambridge who studied History of Arts spent time exploring the new gallery with the staff of the museum before leaving.
Today The Duchess of Cambridge debuted a new designer for her wardrobe.
For the visit, The Duchess wore a Gucci tweed dress. The Grosgrain-trimmed cotton-blend tweed mini dress is made from blended cotton tweed is mid-knee length long.
The £1,790 dress comes in black and white light tweed with blue and red web trim and faux-pearl embellishments that are topped with the label’s iconic interlocking ‘GG’ logo.
It features elbow-length sleeves with a concealed hook and zipper at the back. The dress is currently available at Net-A-Porter and Farfetch for $2980.
After a long time, we saw the return of Catherine’s LK Bannett Navy block heel shoes.
The Duchess carried a new red suede clutch today, it’s a customized version of Emmy London’s Natasha Lipstick and Gold Clutch.
A classic Emmy London clutch bag in a hot lipstick red kid suede. This elegant hand-crafted clutch is piped in gold calf leather and opens to reveal a soft neutral oyster suede lining and zip pocket. The customized version Catherine carried did not have gold piping.
Catherine finished her looks with a half-up-do hairstyle that shows her Classic Annoushka Baroque Pearl Drops available at Annoushka for £320 and Kiki Diamond Hoop Earrings.
Today, Palace announced two new engagements for The Duchess. She will visit Natural History Museum to view the new Hintze Hall display, a blue whale skeleton, on July 13. William, Kate, and Harry will attend a private service to re-dedicate the grave of Diana, Princess of Wales at Althorp House on Saturday. The service, which will fall on what would have been Lady Diana’s birthday, will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury & attended by family.