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Kate Middleton Amps Up The Bling Factor With Necklace Loaned From The Queen (PHOTOS)

Kate Middleton's Bling Is Fit For A Queen
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 11: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 48 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends The Portrait Gala 2014: Collecting to Inspire at the National Portrait Gallery on February 11, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Max Mumby/Indigo via Getty Images
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 11: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 48 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends The Portrait Gala 2014: Collecting to Inspire at the National Portrait Gallery on February 11, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

She didn't wear a tiara but Kate Middleton wore bling worthy of a queen on Tuesday.

The Duchess of Cambridge attended her first official engagement of the year - sans baby Prince George - at the Portrait Gala 2014 at the National Portrait Gallery in London, wearing a stunning diamond necklace that nearly blinded us from seeing her Jenny Packham gown.

The 32-year-old's jewelry was actually on loan from her grandmother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth, who received the Nizam of Hyderabad necklace as a gift when she got married to Prince Phillip in 1947.

With her hair extra curly for the fancy occasion, Prince William's other half looked relaxed and happy (which may be a result of her recent sunny vacation to the Caribbean island, Mustique.)

The midnight blue evening gown (which she also wore in 2013) was the perfect choice for the black tie affair (the better to show off her diamonds, natch) which complemented her light tan.

Middleton, who is a patron of the gallery, made a short but sweet speech in front of the other A-Listers at the event.

"I just wanted to say how delighted I am to be here this evening to celebrate the fantastic work of The National Portrait Gallery. The Gallery's achievements are exceptional. They hold the most extensive collection of portraits in the world, and their unique and brilliant exhibitions never fail to inspire us all. But, it is more than simply a world renowned visitor's attraction - the Gallery's outreach and research programmes makes it one of the leading centres for the important study into Portraiture. i simply could not be more proud to be its Patron."

Ladies and gentlemen, we have the next Diana, Princess of Wales on our hands!

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