Royal Kate's Portrait Unveiled in London

Britain's Duchess of Cambridge is said to be "delighted" with her first official painted portrait, which has gone on display in London.

Published

11 months ago

Categories

World

Topics

Royals, Europe

People

Kate Middleton

Places

London, United Kingdom

Transcript

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION) STORY: The first official portrait of Britain's Duchess of Cambridge, popularly known by her former name Kate Middleton, was unveiled in London on Friday (January 11), and opinion was sharply divided over an image many deemed unflattering. The 31-year-old, who as a glamorous future queen is one of the world's most photographed women, is portrayed in the large canvas with a faint smile, long, copper-tinted hair and shadow under her eyes. Award-winning artist Paul Emsley, surrounded by a scrum of international news crews at the National Portrait Gallery where the work was revealed, described the duchess as a "wonderful subject" and "generous as a person". He also said she was 'delighted' with painting. Public reaction was less positive, however, with views on Twitter and newspaper websites overwhelmingly negative. The National Portrait Gallery commissioned the painting of its patron, and it was given to the gallery by Hugh Leggatt through the Art Fund.