Kate Middleton Paid Homage To Diana, Queen Elizabeth Ahead Of Intimate 40th Birthday Party

As the Duchess of Cambridge takes on more royal duties after the Queen canceled some engagements, citing health concerns, Kate Middleton moves to sing the praises of the most iconic women in British royal history in her new birthday portraits.

On Saturday, Middleton, who turned 40 on Jan. 9, released three new portraits in honor of the milestone occasion. She also made sure to make a subtle nod to Queen Elizabeth and the late Princess Diana.

In one photo, the Duchess donned a red satin one-shoulder gown and matched it with a glittering pair of diamond earrings that belonged to the 95-year-old monarch, according to People.

Meanwhile, as an homage to Diana, Middleton, in a traditional portrait pose for the second black-and-white image, wore her late mother-in-law's diamond and pearl drop earrings and the royal's iconic sapphire engagement ring in full view.

The royal mom regularly channels the Princess of Wales through her royal style and oftentimes wears pieces of jewelry from the Queen's collection.

Kate celebrated her milestone 40th birthday privately amid the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases across the U.K. Last year, her husband and three children, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte, organized a tea party as she turned 39 at Anmer Hall, their country home in Norfolk.

According to royal sources, the Duchess of Cambridge is "flourishing" and "has come into her own," since she married into the British royal family on April 29, 2011.

Currently, Kate is assisting the royals more than ever since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back as senior working royals.

Today noted Catherine's 40th birthday came as she nears other major milestones, including when Prince Charles, her father-in-law, becomes king, which would then make her the Princess of Wales, as Diana was before her. In addition, she will become the queen consort once Prince William inherits the throne.

Prince William and Middleton met at St. Andrews University in Scotland in 2001 as freshmen, graduating in 2005, during which the pair posed for what became a famous picture of them in matching button-down white shirts.

“They met at the beginning of university,” a friend of Middleton’s said per the New York Post. “They were still young and had grown up together. And they still get on well [as] they have similar interests; they enjoy doing the same things.”