The very first official portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge was unveiled today at the National Portrait Gallery, and whilst Kate, looked her usual sparkly best in a past-season flowing burgundy Whistles dress, comments across social media sites suggest that this wasn’t best showcased in the painting.
Both the National Portrait Gallery and the Duchess, who is one of their patrons, agreed that artist Paul Emsley, winner of the 2007 BP Portrait Award competition should be bestowed with the honour of painting Kate. The Duchess who expressed to Emsley, that “she would like to be portrayed naturally – her natural self – as opposed to her official self” sat for two sittings in May and June last year. Emsley went on to say, “She struck me as enormously open and generous and a very warm person. After initially feeling it was going to be an unsmiling portrait I think it was the right choice in the end to have her smiling – that is really who she is.”
At today’s private unveiling both Kate and William spent around 10 minutes looking at the portrait before meeting Emsley.
Kate said, “It’s just amazing, I thought it was brilliant.” whilst William praised the portrait saying, “It’s beautiful, it’s absolutely beautiful.”