Kate's latest night at the museum

The Duchess of Cambridge at the National Portrait Gallery

(photo Kensington Palace Twitter)

No wonder she's smiling. The Duchess of Cambridge was at the National Portrait Gallery in London for the 2017 Portrait Gala on March 28th. It's another arty engagement for Kate, whose made painting and photography her royal passions, and followed a pattern of museums and galleries on the duchess' visits list. Here's a look back at a night of culture and chic for the Duchess of Cambridge.

Tonight we were delighted to welcome our Patron, HRH The Duchess of Cambridge @KensingtonRoyal to the Gallery for the 2017 #PortraitGala pic.twitter.com/US34YadWx5

— Portrait Gallery (@NPGLondon) March 28, 2017

Kate has been patron of the National Portrait Gallery since 2012 and has visited several times, famously popping in last year to see an exhibition linked to the centenary of Vogue, featuring photos of the duchess taken by Josh Olins for the magazine. This time round, the focus was on art and its historical links.

The Duchess of Cambridge, Patron of @NPGLondon, is greeted at the 2017 Portrait Gala by artists Ishbel Myerscough and Philip Treacy. pic.twitter.com/6DTfQiUUBZ

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 28, 2017

The Portrait Gala is a fundraiser to support the future work of the National Portrait Gallery. This year there the money brought in will go towards on a project to return famous paintings to different parts of the country - appropriately enough called 'Coming Home'.

The Duchess enjoyed a visit to our #HowardHodgkin exhibition and a tour of #WearingCahun by Gillian Wearing pic.twitter.com/IrfrjcRYy9

— Portrait Gallery (@NPGLondon) March 28, 2017

The Duchess of Cambridge was given a tour of the exhibition 'Gillian Wearing and Claude Cohun, Behind the Mask' by Gillian Wearing herself. Kate also saw works by  artists including Grayson Perry and Juergen Teller.

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Kate was in dark green lace in a gown by Temperley of London, Three years ago, the Duchess of Cambridge caused a stir by attending the same event wearing the famous Nizam of Hyderabad diamonds, borrowed from the Queen. There were no sparklers on show this time round but there were still plaudits for the frock. 

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Kate's evening of art followed more announcements of an increase in her public engagements. Earlier in the day, Kensington Palace confirmed by tweet that the Duchess of Cambridge will visit Luxembourg on May 11th to mark the 150th anniversary of the 1867 Treaty of London.  And next Tuesday, we can expect more gala gowns as the Duchess of Cambridge attends the premiere of 42nd Street at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in aid of East Anglia Children's Hospices, another of her charities. The latest night at a museum really is the start of a new season as Kate heads into spring.