Princess Diana's Never-Before-Seen Photo Draws Comparisons To Kate Middleton Birthday Portrait

A previously unreleased portrait of Princess Diana is now being displayed at Kensington Palace, and it has drawn comparisons to a recent photo of her daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton.

The never-before-seen portrait taken by David Bailey in 1988 of the late Princess of Wales was revealed to the public Friday at a new exhibition called "Life Through a Royal Lens." The exhibition "brings together some of the most iconic images ever taken of the royal family" and chronicles their "enduring relationship with the camera," according to the Historic Royal Palaces website.

The black-and-white photo shows then-27-year-old Princess Diana staring stoically into the distance, wearing a satin one-shouldered gown and a pair of teardrop earrings.

Princess Diana reportedly chose photographer Bailey for the portrait because he "reflected her desire to establish a new photographic identity for herself."

The shot, which was commissioned by London's National Gallery, had remained in the artist's personal archive for over three decades, according to Us Weekly.

Claudia Acott Williams, curator at Historic Royal Palaces, said in a press release that the portrait of Princess Diana was "one of the most powerful images" in the exhibit.

The image of Princess Diana has since drawn comparisons to recent portraits taken of her son Prince William's wife Duchess Kate in honor of her 40th birthday in January, Us Weekly noted.

In one of her black-and-white birthday portraits, taken by photographer Paolo Roversi, the Duchess of Cambridge also gazes off into the distance while posing in an off-the-shoulder gown.

In the image, Middleton also wore a pair of Princess Diana's pearl earrings and her sapphire engagement ring, which previously belonged to the late royal.

The earrings Middleton wore were gifted to Princess Diana as a wedding present from Collingwood jewelers. Prince William's wife has been seen using them on multiple occasions in honor of her late mother-in-law.

Both portraits have received praise on social media. One Twitter user said Bailey and Princess Diana were "icons," while another found the Princess of Wales' picture "lovely."

One person tweeted that Middleton looked "incredible" in her portrait, while others found the duchess' image "breathtakingly beautiful."

"Queen! Gorgeous! Stunning! Beautiful! This exactly what we have been begging for!!!" one royal fan commented on the Duchess of Cambridge's picture.

Acott Williams pointed out the importance of photography to the royal family.

"The medium [of photography] has shaped how the world views the British monarchy," the Historic Royal Palaces curator said in the press release. "It has allowed the Royal Family to offer fascinating insights into their life and work, transforming the royal image and creating an unprecedented relationship between crown and subjects."