The people of the Solomon Islands must have a sense of humour or perhaps it is just the cultural differences, contrasting our up-tight western civilisation. The Duchess of Cambridge stifled her laugh with a demure smile, as she was presented with a carved wooden sculpture which had an uncanny resemblance to the second in line to the throne's wife. It was all graciously accepted by the good natured Duchess,who paraded past an entourage of topless women, on the first day of her visit to Marau, Solomon Islands. She travels by boat to Tavanipupu, as part of the Royal couple's Diamond Jubilee Tour of South East Asia tomorrow.

The history of art graduate is no stranger to the human form completing her 2.1 degree at St. Andrews University in Scotland. She was also the guest of honour at the opening of the Lucian Freud Portraits exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, earlier this year. The exhibition was filled with large fleshy portraits of men and women in the buff, including the iconic 'Portrait of a Benefits Supervisor' one of Freuds best know paintings. The Duchess was made a patron of the gallery last December.

Lucian Freud (1922 – 2011) was one of the most important and influential artists of his generation. Paintings of people were central to his work and this major exhibition, spanning over seventy years, is the first to focus on his portraiture. Produced in close collaboration with the late Lucian Freud, the exhibition concentrates on particular periods and groups of sitters which illustrate Freud's stylistic development and technical virtuosity. Insightful paintings of the artist's lovers, friends and family, referred to by the artist as the 'people in my life', will demonstrate the psychological drama and unrelenting observational intensity of his work. Featuring over 100 works from museums and private collections throughout the world, some of which have never been seen before, this is an unmissable opportunity to experience the work of one of the world's greatest artists. Freud was a towering and uncompromising figure in the art world for more than 50 years. He died in July age 88.