FASHION Magazine
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Kate Middleton has perfect hair and a Mona Lisa smile in her first official portrait (Plus: How she spent her 31st birthday!)
Left: Portrait courtesy dukeandduchessofcambridge.org; Right: Photography by John Stillwell – WPA Pool/Getty Images See Kate Middleton’s outfit up close »
The first official painted portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge was unveiled today in London and reviews are… mixed, to put it lightly. Created by artist Paul Emsley, the painting is quite dark, save for the glowing face of a serene-looking Kate Middleton with more of a Mona Lisa half-smile than the joyful grin we’re used to. “The Duchess explained that she would like to be portrayed naturally—her natural self—as opposed to her official self,” explained Emsley in a video about the work (which you can watch below). And yet, the painting seems much more official than casual—we’re not the only ones who think it would be the perfect portrait to appear on, say, currency? (We can hope!)
The painting does, however, capture Kate Middleton’s enviable hair. “We did say in the beginning we were going to make a feature of her hair, because it is a strong feature about her and everyone, I think, recognizes her in part through her lovely hair,” Emsley noted.