Kate Middleton's new portrait stirs mixed reactions online
A recently unveiled portrait of Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, has sparked mixed reactions online. The portrait was commissioned by Tatler magazine and has been featured on its cover. It is part of a series showcasing members of Britain's Royal Family. The inspiration for the artwork came from Middleton's appearance at King Charles III's first state banquet in November 2022, where she donned a Jenny Packham gown and jewelry once owned by Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana.
British-Zambian artist behind Middleton's controversial portrait
The artist behind the portrait, Hannah Uzor, a British-Zambian painter, did not have Middleton sit for the painting. Instead, she sifted through over 1,89,000 photos to "capture her likeness," as per Tatler. Uzor described her artistic process as an attempt to capture the "soul" of Middleton in the painting. She spent considerable time studying pictures and videos of Middleton with her family and during diplomatic visits to understand her better.
Portrait was meant to be symbol of 'strength and dignity'
The portrait, titled The Princess of Wales - A Portrait of Strength and Dignity, will grace Tatler's July cover. It is intended to honor Middleton's "courage and dignity" amidst her ongoing battle with cancer. Uzor stated that the recent cancer diagnosis gave her a fresh perspective while creating the portrait. She also mentioned that all her portraits are composed of layers of personality constructed from everything she can find about the subjects.
But why is the public unhappy?
Despite Uzor's intentions, the portrait has been met with dissatisfaction from royal fans. Many online commenters have argued that the portrait does not resemble Middleton, who has been out of the public eye since January due to surgery and a subsequent cancer diagnosis. Critics claimed that it "looks nothing like her," questioning its likeness to the princess. This controversy follows public scrutiny over Middleton's father-in-law's portrait.
King Charles III's official portrait had left people unimpressed, too
The 75-year-old king's first official portrait was unveiled at Buckingham Palace last week. The eight-foot-tall masterpiece, painted by British artist Jonathan Yeo, featured King Charles in the uniform of the Welsh Guards. However, its red backdrop evoked strong reactions on the internet. Social media users pointed out the portrait resembled the monarch but the "harshness of the red doesn't match the softness of his expression."
