Prince William and Kate Middleton see their first official portrait

The first official joint portrait of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge has been unveiled - and the couple have had a chance to see it themselves. The royal husband and wife visited Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum where they saw the painting, commissioned last year as a gift for the people of Cambridgeshire.

It shows the pair standing side-by-side, with Kate in an elegant emerald dress and William in a black suit. The portrait, which is to go on public display in the university city, was painted by award-winning artist Jamie Coreth.

The duke and duchess, both 40, met Coreth as they viewed the painting on Thursday. After looking at the artwork, Prince William said "it's quite big" and told Coreth it was "amazing".

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The portrait was commissioned by the Cambridgeshire Royal Portrait Fund, held by the Cambridge Community Foundation, as a gift to Cambridgeshire. Coreth has incorporated the city of Cambridge into his work by painting the background with the tones and colours of many of the historical stone buildings that are synonymous with it.

The artist said it was the "most extraordinary privilege of my life to be chosen to paint this picture". "I wanted to show Their Royal Highnesses in a manner where they appeared both relaxed and approachable, as well as elegant and dignified," he added.

The portrait of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge painted by Jamie Coreth (Jamie Coreth/Fine Art Commissions/PA Wire)

He further said he wanted the couple's first portrait "to evoke a feeling of balance between their public and private lives". Members of the public will be able to see the painting at the Fitzwilliam Museum for three years.

After that, the artwork will be exhibited in other community spaces and galleries around Cambridgeshire.

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