Duchess of Cambridge picks places close to heart, including St Andrews, for birthday portraits’ first public display

Portraits of the Duchess of Cambridge taken to mark her 40th birthday are to go on public display for the first time – in places close to Kate’s heart.

The glamorous shots of the duchess by celebrated fashion photographer Paolo Roversi will feature in four venues around the UK linked to Kate’s childhood and her relationship with the Duke of Cambridge.

They include the Middleton family church, St Andrews university where William and Kate first met, and on the island of Anglesey where they lived as newlyweds.

The exhibitions form part of the National Portrait Gallery’s Coming Home project, which sees the gallery lend portraits of famous people to places with which they are closely associated.

Prince William and Kate Middleton pass St Salvator's halls, accompanied by Sir Menzies Campbell (right), during a visit to St Andrews University. Picture Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

The locations were selected in consultation with Kate, who was described as having a special affinity with each one.

A black-and-white shot of the duchess – in profile looking left – will be on view first from March 22 to April 5 at St James the Less in the Berkshire village of Pangbourne.

The church is where Kate’s family have been parishioners for generations.

The photograph will then move to the Reading Museum – close to the Royal Berkshire Hospital where the duchess was born in 1982 – with the image appearing from April 7 to June 4.

A picture of the duchess with her hair flowing and wearing a red Alexander McQueen dress will be on show between June 13 and September 30 at the Wardlaw Museum at the University of St Andrews.

William and Kate met as students at the university in Fife, when Kate was studying history of art, as was William before he switched to geography.

The third photograph in Roversi’s series shows Kate in a white dress, smiling straight at the camera.

This portrait will be displayed at Anglesey’s Oriel Mon museum between July 16 and October 2.

William and Kate had a home on Anglesey in north Wales before their wedding while William worked as an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot.

They remained there during the early years of their marriage, eventually moving to London soon after the birth of their first child Prince George in 2013.

Nicholas Cullinan, director of the National Portrait Gallery, of which Kate is patron, said: “As one of her first and earliest patronages, we are delighted to be sharing Paolo Roversi’s wonderful portraits, taking each to a place of resonance across the United Kingdom for Her Royal Highness as part of our Coming Home project.”

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took a trip down memory lane in May last year by returning to St Andrews University during a visit to Scotland.

They met with local fishermen and their families in Fife to hear about the work of fishing communities on day six of their week long visit to Scotland. And William and Kate were also pictured land yachting at St Andrews Beach after spending time with members of Fife Young Carers.

Kate celebrated her 40th birthday on January 9 this year. The portraits can be visited free of charge.