Kate Middleton Duchess of Cambridge first official portrait

The first official portrait of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge has been unveiled.



The 2012 painting by Paul Emsley is on display at the National Portrait Gallery from this afternoon (January 11).

Emsley told BBC News: "I think it was the right choice in the end to have her smiling. That's really who she is, I think.

"Everyone, I think, recognises her partly through her lovely hair.

"I've altered the colour of the eyes slightly to match the colour of the blouse and the blue background."

He added: "I don't have lots of things in the background. I do like large faces, I find them strong and contemporary.

"I'm interested in the landscape of the face, the way in which light and shadow fall across the forms.

"That's really my subject matter. To have anything else in there is really just an interference."

Speaking at the unveiling of the portrait, Kate reportedly told the artist: "It's just amazing, I thought it was brilliant."

Catherine sat for Emsley once at his studio in May 2012 and a second time a month later at Kensington Palace.

He worked from a series of photographs to complete the image over several months.

National Portrait Gallery director Sandy Nairn picked Emsley for the portrait. Catherine is a patron of the gallery.

The image can be bought from the gallery shop as a single postcard for 70p, or as a set of six for £3.50.

http://www.npg.org.uk/shop/shop-list.ph ... tails=5991

Hope he doesn't give up his day job!

He's made her look like Peri Gilpin ("Roz") from Frasier !

The highly acclaimed effort from another site I use...

Spoiler:

Cripes, what a boring picture !