Duchess goes Dutch with a pearl earring
THE Duchess of Cambridge displayed a fine eye for detail yesterday by wearing a pair of the Queen’s pearl earrings to view one of the most famous Dutch paintings – Girl With A Pearl Earring.
The work by the 17th-century artist Johannes Vermeer inspired a 2003 film starring Colin Firth, Scarlett Johansson and Cillian Murphy.
It was, she told fans, her favourite painting in the Mauritshuis gallery in The Hague which she toured during a day of engagements in the Netherlands on her first solo overseas tour.
In a pale blue Catherine Walker skirt suit, she flew the flag for Britain with our third most important trading partner – the two nations do £68billion of business a year – a day after Prime Minister Theresa May went there in an effort to lay the ground for a favourable Brexit deal.
Kate, 34, like other Royals, will be expected to support the UK’s efforts to help win trade deals once Britain leaves the European Union.
The Queen’s most senior aide, her private secretary Sir Christopher Geidt, an accomplished operator on the diplomatic stage, accompanied her.
Royal sources insisted he was there as a trustee of the Royal Collection, which has loaned 22 paintings for an exhibition of old Dutch masters at the Mauritshuis, as well as to provide advice on Kate’s first solo overseas visit.
The Duchess, a former history of art student, met King Willem-Alexander for lunch. She curtsied to him at the Villa Eikenhorst, a 1980s mansion where he lives with his Argentine-born wife Queen Maxima and their three daughters.
Later the Duchess spent an hour at an intimate round table discussion with leaders from mental health groups and addiction charities in the UK and the Netherlands.
Before returning home, she visited one of Holland’s most deprived districts in the port city of Rotterdam to see a new charity-funded project designed to keep youths off the streets by teaching them manufacturing, maintenance and repair skills.
Adult volunteers teach mainly young people skills such as welding, bicycle repairs, metalwork and woodwork.
Welder Richenel Lensa, 47, said: “When I met her I told her my hand was dirty but she still shook it and said, ‘Sometimes my hands are dirty.’
“The kids are very happy to see that someone important has come here – it’s great for the kids. They were so excited.” The queen and philip receive miliTary medals