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GIRL ABOUT TOWN: Now Kate Middleton draws her own Royal portraits!

By Charlotte Griffiths, Diary Editor For The Mail On Sunday

Published: 16:15 EST, 5 September 2015 | Updated: 19:00 EST, 5 September 2015

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The Duchess of Cambridge has been filling her spare time by drawing portraits of her children

Amid growing speculation that she has retreated from her husband's social life, I can reveal that the The Duchess of Cambridge has been filling her spare time by drawing portraits of her children.

In scenes reminiscent of a Jane Austen novel, Kate is said to have spent the summer enjoying long sunny afternoons in the picturesque garden of her Norfolk home Anmer Hall with her sketch book in hand, drawing detailed pencil works of Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

As Prince George is notoriously wriggly, she has perhaps had little luck in persuading him to pose in person because friends report that she has been drawing from her own photographs.

Kate, 33, has shown her work to a few select friends, including one or two from the art world. The sketches have been so well received that one friend is said to have joked that she should exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery, where she is the patron.

Modest Kate is said to have laughed off such an idea, but stranger things have happened.

Kate has, after all, shown the world her artistic flare before, when she took the first official portraits of Prince George and Princess Charlotte herself after their respective births.

She has also shown her talent for painting with children at The ArtRoom, a charity which she also patronises.

The Duchess, who read History of Art at St Andrews University, has been continuously taking pictures of the children since they were born, but she rarely plays photographer at the weddings of Prince Williams's friends, as she has increasingly avoided accompanying him to the nuptials of others.

Last week, Kate herself was immortalised in a new official portrait by Brazilian artist Fabiano Millani.

Depicting her with a warm smile and glowing complexion, the work is in stark contrast to her first official portrait, by Paul Emsley, in which she appeared to be grimacing.

Kate is said to have spent the summer enjoying long afternoons in the picturesque garden of her Norfolk home Anmer Hall with her sketch book in hand, drawing pencil works of Prince George and Princess Charlotte

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Ever since Princess Charlotte was born on May 2nd this year we've been dying for another glimpse of her royal cuteness.

And now we've got two for the price of one with these incredibly sweet shots of both Charlotte and her big brother George. What an adorable pair they make and they're clearly very used to having their photo taken already.

We absolutely love the way the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge dress little George. Those long socks and his side parting are so old fashioned but only make him even more delightful. And this look is another great example of his traditional style.

His shirt and shorts are by high end childrens wear designer Rachel Riley and actually come as a matching set that are cleverly joined together with pearl effect buttons. Smart and practical; perfect for a growing boy.

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PS: The iconic royal blue Issa dress that Kate Middleton wore to announce her engagement in 2010, has been relaunched in the brand's collection catalogues – and given the stunningly unromantic name of 'The Phylis'.

I am sure designer Daniella Helayel, who has left the firm, was hoping that the blue silk wrap dress would have been called 'The Kate'. But it seems the label has resisted, perhaps to avoid accusations of cashing in on its Royal connections.

However, the company hasn't entirely shied away from profiting from the dress – originally given the equally unceremonious name of Item SJB 0157. The Phylis now costs £565 – £180 more than it did five years ago. I'd call that cashing in!

There aren't many people who approve of the relationship between Ben Cohen and dancer Kristina Rihanoff – least of all the rugby player's wife Abby.

But on Friday night the couple got a royal seal of approval when Ben, 36, introduced Kristina to his former teammate Mike Tindall and his wife Zara Phillips, the Queen's granddaughter, at a private party at the Marriot hotel in Twickenham.

I gather they all got on famously.

Cohen and Rihanoff, 37, who met on last year's Strictly Come Dancing, had earlier made their first public appearance as a couple at the Rugby Aid after-party at Twickenham.

Their appearance together comes after weeks of secrecy about the romance. Ben is divorcing Abby, his wife of 11 years, with whom he has two children.