Kate goes solo: Duchess of Cambridge carries out first public engagement without Wills as she visits Lucian Freud exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery

The Duchess of Cambridge looked buoyed and confident as she embarked on her first solo engagement since joining the royal family.

Kate was attending a private viewing of a new exhibition of portraits by the late Lucian Freud at the National Portrait Gallery in London, of which she recently became royal patron.

If she was nervous at striking out on her own at long last she didn't show it.

Arriving at the gallery she mingled with arty types including photographer Mary McCartney, Bella Freud, the artist's daughter, and Jefferson Hack.

The Duchess wore a grey tweed coat dress by High Street label Jesire - stocked by many department stores - which had a large shawl collar and a black belt around her trim waist. Dresses within the Jesire range retail for around £150.

She completed the outfit with a chunky diamond bracelet and vertiginous Jimmy Choo heels.

Her hair looked gleaming thanks to a four hour session in top London salon Richard Ward on Monday.

Although she attended a private fundraising dinner on behalf of Prince Charles last year, last night’s visit to the hugely-anticipated exhibition was the first time she has appeared in public without her husband, Prince William, by her side.

 

Freud's portrait of the Queen remains one of the most unusual and controversial depictions of the British monarch (left) a painting, entitled 'Self Portrait, Reflection' (right)                                                                                                                                                              

Regarded as one of the most important painters of modern times, Freud was known for his intensely realist portraits, particularly of nudes.

Born in Berlin, he was the grandson of Sigmund Freud, the leading pioneer of modern psychoanalysis, but moved to London when the Nazis rose to power.

He became a naturalised British subject and spent almost his entire working life based in London, where the twice-married painter surrounded himself by beautiful younger women, including the model Kate Moss, who also posed for him.

Freud remained totally dedicated to his work, painting long hours every day well into his late 80s in a sustained bid to complete his life's work before death overtook him.

Among his most famous subjects was Queen Elizabeth II, who posed after extensive negotiations between the palace and the painter.

The colourful portrait, which the artist donated to the queen's collection, remains one of the most unusual and controversial depictions of the British monarch but is not featured in the current exhibition.

The Duchess told photographer Mary McCartney that she had been looking up her work on her website and she was 'hugely impressed' by it.

'It made me blush but I was incredibly flattered. It is refreshing  having her here. It is so exciting that she has become involved, ' the photographer said.

She was shown round the exhibition by the director of the gallery, Sandy Nairne, looking at a small section of self portraits, a painting of Freud's first wife, Kitty, and dwelled for a moment on 'Pregnant Girl', an oil on canvas from 1961.

Although his portrait of the Queen is not displayed there is a photograph of him painting the monarch.

His portrait of Andrew Parker Bowles, ex husband of the Duchess of Cornwall, is also on display.

Another girl for the Kardashian clan! Pregnant Kourtney 'expecting a daughter The Kardashians look set add yet another female to their ranks.

Kourtney Kardashian, 32, who is due later this year, is said to be pregnant with a baby girl.

'Kourtney was hoping for a girl,' an insider tells America's Life & Style

 'She loves having a boy but thinks having a girl would be perfect so she can dress her up and show her the ropes in life.'

Though her spokesperson will not confirm the news, both Kourtney and boyfriend Scott Disick are reportedly elated to add a girl to their brood.

'A girl would be a fantastic addition to our family,” he told the magazine in the past.

The couple are also the parents of two-year-old son Mason Dash, who was born in December 2009.

  The E! star certainly looked to be bubbling over with happiness yesterday, though she nearly broke her ever-present cell phone.

Kourtney was spending a day in West Hollywood with a friend, and the two were spotted browsing furniture stores together.

And the reality star was dressed for the wet weather in a waxed leopard print coat and patent black boots, which she wore over opaque tights.

She took the feline themed look one step further with a pair of cat-eye sunglasses, and seemed happy to be indulging in some retail therapy as she smiled for the cameras.

She used one arm to keep her coat closed and the other to carry an oversized black handbag as she strolled down the street

Kourtney appeared to be keeping her growing baby bump covered up as she enjoyed a spot of shopping with her pal.

It was a far cry from a recent family holiday to Mexico, where the star was spotted parading her pregnant form on the beach in a series of bikinis.

 She took the trip with Disick, 28, and their son, who looked extremely happy as they enjoyed some time off before preparing for the new arrival.

The loved up couple have been together for two years.

At the time Kourtney told People magazine: ‘This baby was unexpected, but it’s 100 per cent a blessing.’

               Is Beyonce's new blue bling a 'push present' from Jay-Z?

 She hardly needs another present, when her best gift arrived in the guise of Blue Ivy.

But it seems Beyonce has been lavishly pampered by Jay-Z following the birth of their firstborn last month, with the singer sporting a chunky piece of bling which she was given as a 'push present'.

Her rapper husband is believed to have bought the blue ring, in honour of their daughter's name, in a tradition that sees new fathers reward the mother after she gives birth to their child.

Ever the fashionista, the large jewel was coordinated with Beyonce's blue nail polish as she made her second public appearance since becoming a mother on January 7.

Her first 'stepping out' was the previous evening on Monday night as she showcased her post-baby curves in a red Alice Temperley cocktail dress, which was undeniably striking.

It was a wise move as the 30-year-old looked picture perfect for the first night of Jay-Z's two-legged occupation of NYC's Carnegie Hall.

And this triumph obviously emboldened the songbird, as last night she went a step further by climbing into a more overtly sexy number.

The gown, by bridal favourite Monique Lhuillier, was skintight and sprinkled with sequins that dotted across the sweetheart neckline and up across the nude netting atop Bey's cleavage.

Netting is popular this season, and allows a sexy dress to ooze that Jessica Rabbit va-va-voom while affording the wearer a modest elegance.

It's perfect for creating that paradox of flaunting and covering up, all at once.

Not that Beyonce needs to hide her figure, the skintight dress would betray the slightest lump or bump, with the sequins amplifying their pesky existence - and nothing showed.

She accessorised the look with Gucci shoes, a Chanel purse, Lorraine Schwartz jewellery and the bounciest of celebrity curls.