Mixed Responses to Latest Kate Middleton Portrait Unveiled Following King Charles III's Red Portrait

Kate Middleton Tatler portrait

Kate Middleton portrait for Tatler by artist Hannah Uzor. Tatler

Another week, another controversial royal portrait. A new painting of Princess Kate Middleton was commissioned by Tatler magazine for the cover of its July 2024 issue. The portrait was unveiled on Wednesday, May 22, and has sparked a debate online.

British-Zambian artist Hannah Uzor painted the Princess of Wales, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment, taking inspiration from Kate’s appearance at King Charles III’s first state banquet following his coronation in 2022.

For the event in November 2022, Kate, who is 42 years old, dressed in a Jenny Packham gown. She also wore the famous Lover’s Knot Tiara, originally made for Queen Mary in 1913. Additionally, she accessorized with earrings that once belonged to the late Princess Diana and a bracelet that was owned by Queen Elizabeth II.

Kate did not sit for the portrait. Instead, Uzor used "as many photos" of her as he could find, according to Tatler.

"When you can't meet the sitter in person, you have to look at everything you can find and piece together the subtle human moments revealed in different photographs," Uzor explained to the magazine. "Do they have a particular way of standing or holding their head or hands? Do they have a recurrent gesture?"

The image of Kate smiling with her hands clasped was praised as a "portrait of strength and dignity" on the magazine cover.

But, when it was revealed on Tatler's Instagram account on Wednesday, it sparked a strong reaction.

“This is not HRH The Princess of Wales. God knows who it is, but it is not HRH,” one person commented.

“This is really, um, unfortunate,” wrote another Instagram user.

“Cover horribilis,” quipped another person.

The mixed response follows a similar reaction last week to King Charles III’s first official portrait since his coronation.

The mostly red painting was unveiled by Charles, 75, at Buckingham Palace on May 14 and was met with shock over artist Jonathan Yeo’s bold choice of color.

King Charles Artist Explains Why He Chose Red in New Portrait

King Charles His Majesty King Charles III by / MEGA

In the portrait, the king is seen wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guards, of which he was made Regimental Colonel in 1975, and holding a sword.

Yeo, who is 53 years old, shared that he found inspiration for the red color in the Welsh Guards. However, he aimed for a more contemporary look in his painting to ensure that the focus remains on the face and personality. The use of color was initially an experiment that turned out well when he sketched and worked on the face and background.

On the other hand, Uzor mentioned to Tatler that her portrait of Kate has gained a deeper meaning following the princess's announcement of her cancer diagnosis in March.

"All my portraits are a reflection of a person's unique personality, pieced together from various aspects of their life," the artist explained. He praised Kate for her video where she bravely shared her diagnosis, describing it as a moment of facing challenges with honesty and courage.

Uzor also commended the Princess of Wales, stating, "She has truly embraced her role with grace and dignity. It seems like she was destined for this position, carrying herself with elegance and poise."

Editor's P/S:

The recent unveiling of Princess Kate Middleton's portrait by Hannah Uzor has ignited a polarized response. While the magazine cover hails it as a testament to the princess's strength and dignity, many on social media have criticized its likeness to the subject. This controversy echoes the mixed reactions to King Charles III's official portrait, which was met with surprise over its bold use of red. The contrasting reactions to these royal portraits highlight the subjective nature of art and the public's expectations of how their royals should be depicted.

Uzor's approach of using photographs to assemble her portrait raises questions about the role of the artist in capturing the essence of their subject. While Uzor claims to have pieced together subtle human moments, the absence of an in-person sitting may have hindered her ability to fully grasp the princess's unique characteristics. The debate surrounding these portraits underscores the ongoing tension between artistic license and the public's desire for a faithful representation of their beloved royals.