Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge’s 40th Birthday Portraits Receive Over 4 Million Likes

Catherine Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, celebrated her 40th birthday on Sunday, and in honor of the occasion, three new portraits were released.

The photographs, taken by Italian photographer Paolo Roversi in November, have already received over 4 million likes on social media.

One of the three portraits will be added to the permanent collection of the National Portrait Gallery, of which the Duchess is patron.

The photos were shared on the official Twitter and Instagram accounts of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on Sunday, with thousands of people commenting on them.

The Queen also marked the Duchess' milestone birthday by sharing a heartwarming message on the Royal Family Twitter account.

The tweet included four pictures portraying the Queen and Catherine together during four different moments of their royal lives.

Two of the snaps were taken during engagements carried out jointly by the monarch and the Duchess, while a third depicts the Queen and her granddaughter-in-law on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour celebrations.

Finally, the fourth picture shows Catherine and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, smiling as the Queen chooses to cut a cake with a sword during an event in Cornwall last June.

Royal watchers were delighted with the Queen's message, with one fan account commenting on the photos chosen, “Lovely selection of pictures.”

Others praised the stunning and ethereal snaps of the Duchess, calling them “glamorous” and “airbrushed.”

However, some fans also noted the touching tributes included in the photos, paying homage to both the Queen and Princess Diana.

One portrait of Catherine donning a red satin one-shoulder gown reveals the Duchess wearing a signature pair of earrings belonging to the 95-year-old monarch.

Another black-and-white photo shows Catherine in a traditional pose, with Diana's diamond and pearl drop earrings on full display, as well as her iconic sapphire engagement ring.

Celebrated fashion photographer Paolo Riversi, who worked with Catherine on these snaps, described photographing the Duchess as a moment of pure joy.

He said, “taking the portrait of Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge was a true honour for me and a moment of pure joy.

I was moved by her warmth and friendly welcome and enchanted by her shining eyes that reflected the loveliness of her soul and her smile showing the generosity of her heart.

It was a profound and rich experience for me, an unforgettable moment.

I have met a wonderful person, a person who, with her positive energy, can bring hope to the whole world.”

Overall, the release of Catherine's 40th birthday portraits has been met with great enthusiasm and appreciation from fans around the world.