Kate took a private tour of the V&A’s new public archive, with the royal hoping to celebrate the joy of creative expression, Kensington Palace revealed. A seasoned advocate for Britain’s cultural powerhouses, Kate has served as patron of the V&A Museum since March 2018. The Princess of Wales was given a behind-the-scenes tour by the museum’s team of curators, learning how the Storehouse staff will collect, research, and care for some of the most precious creative artefacts. From 17th-century ruffles to the only complete Frank Lloyd Wright interior outside of the United States and the gilded wooden ceiling from the Torrijos Palace in Spain, the V&A East Storehouse will bring objects from across film, fashion, architecture, and art closer to the public than ever before.
In a move that will be of special interest to Kate, the museum has worked in collaboration with young people to curate the Storehouse. The Princess of Wales is known for her dedication to Early Years education and the importance of social and emotional development for children. In February, she joined a group of kindergarten students on a trip to the National Portrait Gallery as they adventured along the ‘Bobeam Tree Trail’, a new interactive initiative designed to help them explore their emotional and social skills. As with this trip to the V&A’s latest endeavour, the engagement was a combination of Catherine’s passion for young people’s education and for art – the patronage of the National Portrait Gallery was one of her first royal roles back in 2011.
Whether it is a family wedding, christening, Trooping the Colour, or her moving trip to Southport last year, Kate has worn McQueen on some of the most important occasions of her royal career, trusting the British fashion house to deliver the perfect balance of feminine silhouettes and impeccable tailoring that means she always looks elevated. The most memorable collaboration between Kate and McQueen, however, is undoubtedly the Victorian-inspired lace wedding gown designed by creative director Sarah Burton, worn as Catherine Middleton became the then Duchess of Cambridge on her wedding day.