The release of Princess Kate Middleton’s portrait for the July cover of “Tatler” magazine has sparked both admiration and criticism. Painted by British artist Hannah Uzor, the portrait depicts Kate in a white gown against a blue background, based on a photograph from a state banquet. The painting was completed amid news of Kate undergoing cancer treatment, which Uzor said gave her a new perspective on the work. However, some critics, including art critic Alastair Sooke, have described the portrait as “intolerably bad” and social media users have been vocal about their dislike for it.
This latest portrait comes on the heels of controversy surrounding a portrait of King Charles III, also painted by Jonathan Yeo. The portrait, which depicts the King in a red Welsh Guard uniform against a red and pink background, has been met with criticism, with some saying it makes him look “demonic” or as if he is “in hell.” Both portraits have generated discussion and debate among Royal Family fans and art critics alike.
Hannah Uzor revealed that she sorted through approximately 189,000 images of Kate in order to capture her likeness for the portrait, as Kate did not sit for the painting. The process of creating the portrait was undoubtedly influenced by the news of Kate’s cancer diagnosis, which was confirmed by the palace in March. Kate shared in a video that she is undergoing chemotherapy treatment for the early stages of cancer, though she did not specify the type. This announcement marked a significant update on Kate’s health, as prior to that, the palace had released a manipulated image of Kate and her children that led to questions about her well-being.
The speculation surrounding Kate’s health has been a prominent topic in recent months, exacerbated by the release of the controversial image on UK’s Mother’s Day. The altered photo, which news outlets later retracted, raised concerns about the palace’s credibility as a source of information. Despite the challenges, Kate’s ongoing treatment and public appearances continue to capture widespread attention and scrutiny. The release of both the portraits of Kate and King Charles have added to the ongoing discourse surrounding the Royal Family, their public image, and the intersection of art and media in portraying their lives.
