Paul Emsley was selected to paint the official portrait of Kate Middleton. He made her, in my opinion, look like a maudlin middle-aged spinster. I can’t believe the Queen Mother did not say, “Off with his head!” What do you think:
Kate Middleton with her vibrant smile and personality.
Kate Middleton’s official portrait…
Kate Middleton Duchess of Cambridge first official portrait unveiled
The 2012 painting by Paul Emsley is on display at the National Portrait Gallery from this afternoon (January 11).
© Rex Features
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 color of the eyes slightly to match the color 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.
© PA Images / John Stillwell/PA Wire
“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.
Michael Bradley - Time Traveler 
She looks so pale, her eyes look cold instead of warm and inviting, and her mouth… It looks like she is grimacing. If I were her I would be so pissed! Kat
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He even changed her eye color on purpose from warm cinnamon to hazel.
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I noticed that! It’s what makes her gaze look so cold. I wonder what her gut reaction really was when she first saw it. I can’t imagine she actually liked it!!!
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If newspapers did not photoshop her pictures so much, we would realise the painting is a much better representation of Kate Middleton. He captures her soul very well.
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