The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were delighted to see the unveiling of their new portrait at the University of Cambridge's Fitzwilliam Museum on Thursday, with William commenting it was "amazing" and "quite big".
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The artwork, which is the first official joint portrait of Prince William and Kate, was painted by award-winning British portrait artist Jamie Coreth.
WATCH: Prince William and Kate view stunning new painted portrait of themselves
The royal couple had the opportunity to view the painted portrait of themselves as it went on public display for the first time. During their visit, they met with artist Jamie, supporters of the project, and Lady Sibyl Marshall – the wife of the late Sir Michael Marshall, who originally proposed the idea to create the painting.
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A painted portrait of Prince William and Kate has been released
Of the portrait, Jamie said: "It has been 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.
"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 royals came face-to-face with the portrait
"The piece was commissioned as a gift for the people of Cambridgeshire, and I hope they will enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed creating it."
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Prince William and Kate in Cambridge
The piece was commissioned in 2021 by the Cambridgeshire Royal Portrait Fund, held by the Cambridge Community Foundation, as a gift to Cambridgeshire.
Prince William and Kate are spending time in the county to celebrate the region and champion issues close to their heart, including homelessness and supporting families.
The royals depart the Fitzwilliam Museum
Their second engagement of the day took William and Kate to East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) in Milton where they met families who are receiving support as well as long-serving staff members.
This was Kate's fifth visit to EACH, and this year marks her tenth as the charity's patron.
Their second engagement took them to EACH in Milton
The Duchess was presented with a bouquet of flowers by 15-year-old Chloe Bowes, who has a neurological condition called bilateral perisylvian polymicrogyria.
William and Kate, wearing face masks, were taken on a tour of the hospice where they met children currently receiving care alongside their families, before joining in some activities in the play area.
Kate was greeted by Chloe Bowes, 15, and presented with a posy
They met Kirsty and Gary Carlin, whose four-year-old daughter Libby lay sleeping on the floor beside them. When the parents offered to wake Libby, William said: "Please don't wake her." Kate added: "We know what happens when you wake a sleeping child."
Kate also sat with an eight-year-old girl called Willow Bamber, who suffers from a severe neurological condition called Leigh's disease. Kate invited Willow to paint her hand and as the little girl tentatively started, the mum-of-three reassured her, "Don't be shy" before pressing her painted hand onto the canvas to reveal her hand print.
Kate offered her hand to be painted
The royal couple were also shown the on-site sensory garden where they met the bereaved family of four-year-old Douglas Wright, who died from a rare cancer called neuroblastoma in February 2018. "It brings back all the memories," Douglas's mother Jane said as they spoke in the garden.
Before leaving, William and Kate attended a small reception on the lawn to thank supporters and volunteers of EACH.
William and Kate told parents Kirsty and Gary Carlin not to wake their daughter
William and Kate then headed to Newmarket to visit the first-ever Cambridgeshire County Day at the July Racecourse, held in honour of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
The event is made up of 120 exhibitors from Cambridgeshire businesses, charity, community and public sectors, and William and Kate had the chance to peruse a number of stalls and meet members of the public.
During the day there were performances and demonstrations by choirs, bands and dancers as well as showcases from organisations including blue light services, local charities, and voluntary groups.
© Photo: Getty ImagesTheir final engagement of the day took them to housing charity Jimmy's
For their final engagement of the day, the couple shone a light on an issue close to William's heart, homelessness. They made a stop at Jimmy's, a housing charity that was set up in 1995 to help Cambridge's homeless community.
William and Kate last visited Jimmy's ten years ago. The charity offers safety and support for individuals and its services include mental health support, workshops on life skills, and onward housing provision.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThey met one resident living in a modular home
It is also trialling a new modular home for some of its residents – moveable, small-scale spaces that provide residents with separate living, cooking, sleeping and bathroom areas as well as their own front door.
William and Kate met one resident living in a modular home and heard about how it made a difference to their life and helped them learn how to live independently.
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