While Prince William has requested Kensington Palace to withhold any updates on Kate Middleton’s health, a new portrait of the Princess of Wales will appear on the cover of Tatler, celebrating her “courage and dignity” in the face of her cancer battle.
Hannah Uzor has crafted the portrait, titled ‘The Princess of Wales – A Portrait of Strength and Dignity,’ which will be featured on the cover of Tatler magazine’s July issue.
British-Zambian artist Hannah Uzor stated that Kate’s portrait was inspired by a video in which she addressed the nation following her cancer diagnosis. The portrait also depicts Catherine at the first state dinner of King Charles’ reign in 2022. This event marked Charles’ first state visit as monarch and the first official visit to the UK by a South African leader since 2010.
At the dinner, the mother of three dazzled in a white gown designed by Jenny Packham and wore Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara, a favorite of Prince William’s late mother, Princess Diana. These costume details are captured in Kate’s portrait.
Kate’s image on the magazine cover is set against a green-blue background, which, according to the artist, pays homage to her eye color and evokes a sense of being in a garden and on water. This setting represents the princess’s passion for rowing.
When asked if Catherine’s recent cancer diagnosis gave her a new perspective, Uzor responded, “Without a doubt.”
“All my portraits are made up of layers of a personality, constructed from everything I can find about them.” The public address showed “a moment of dealing with something difficult, speaking from the heart, having the courage to tackle it head-on,” she added.
Expressing her support for Kate, who has been away from royal duties and the public eye due to chemotherapy treatment, the artist said, “She has really risen up to her role – she was born for this.” The painter, who resides in St Albans, Hertfordshire, also praised the Princess of Wales for her dignity, elegance, and grace.
In March, Kate addressed the nation through a video from Adelaide Cottage, announcing that she had begun a course of prophylactic chemotherapy.
In her speech, she mentioned that she had undergone significant abdominal surgery in London in January, and it was initially believed that her condition was not malignant. Emphasizing that the surgery was successful, she revealed that postoperative examinations had detected the presence of cancer.
“My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment,” she declared.
🎨A extremely #unusualportrait of Kate, #PrincessofWales was chosen by #Tatler for its July issue.
This portrait was painted by British-Zambian artist @HannahUzor #PrincessCatherine #KateMiddleton #FutureQueen #PrincessofWalesreturn pic.twitter.com/kXQOCxeMst— Agedor.art (@agedorgallery) May 22, 2024
However, the new portrait faced backlash from royal fans, who argued that it “looks nothing like her.”
Responding to a post of the magazine cover by Tatler, one netizen questioned the likeness to Catherine. “Doesn’t look like Catherine at all. If she wasn’t wearing that dress I’d have no clue as to who it’s meant to be.”
“Sorry, as much as I love that you have the Princess of Wales on the cover, that looks nothing like her,” another wrote.
A third user chimed in, “If it’s a portrait of Catherine shouldn’t it at least have looked like her?”
A fourth X user wrote, “Are you kidding me?” while another said: “Oh heck, I know art is subjective but it looks nothing like the Princess of Wales.”
Kate’s image on Tatler magazine follows the unveiling of King Charles’ first official portrait by Jonathan Yeo last week. The striking portrait of Charles portrays the monarch in a vibrant red hue, with a butterfly perched on his shoulder symbolizing his passion for nature and the environment.