Duchess of Cambridge thinking of taking Prince George to art gallery

The Duchess of Cambridge has spoken to young people about getting more youngsters visiting art galleries, and said she was thinking of taking her son to the National Portrait Gallery.

Kate was speaking to members of the National Portrait Gallery’s youth forum before its 2019 Portrait Gala on Tuesday evening, which was raising cash to refurbish the gallery in central London.

She was met by the gallery’s director Dr Nicholas Cullinan before being introduced to dignitaries and members of its youth forum and viewing artwork produced by some of its outreach programmes.

The duchess wore a black Alexander McQueen gown adorned with small white flowers that appeared to be similar to the one she wore at the Bafta awards in 2017.

Youth forum member Isabella Titherington, 18, said she spoke to the duchess about how galleries can seem ”inaccessible and intimidating” to young people.

She added: “She did agree that sometimes galleries can seem inaccessible to younger generations and it is good to open them up to that demographic.”

Savanna Achampong said the duchess had told her she was thinking of bringing Prince George to the gallery.

The 19-year-old youth forum member added: “She said she was thinking of bringing George here.

“She said that maybe she could speak to us so we could recommend what paintings they should come and see.

“She was really genuine and down to earth, really nice.”

Kate has been a patron of the gallery, in St Martin’s Place near Trafalgar Square, since 2012.

The black tie gala – with a star-studded guest list including David and Victoria Beckham and Kate Moss – is a night of art, live music and entertainment which was raising cash for the gallery’s Inspiring People: Transforming our National Portrait Gallery project.

The £35.5 million project will fund a complete refurbishment of the gallery building, restoring historic features and creating a new entrance and public forecourt at the north facade.

Plans also include a complete redisplay and reinterpretation of the gallery’s collection, returning the east wing to public use as the new Weston Wing and a new learning centre.

In addition to the work at St Martin’s Place, Inspiring People will also fund the Gallery’s most extensive programme of activities nationwide.

This includes expanding its Creative Connections project to work with museums in Cornwall, Coventry, Sheffield and Southampton to get young people working with artists to create new work which will then be displayed at the venues.