A brand new portrait of the Princess of Wales will grace the cover of the latest edition of Tatler magazine, intended to honor her courage and dignity. However, it has been described as absolutely dreadful by some. Many royal fans are baffled by the depiction, feeling it looks nothing like her and labeling it as just plain weird.
The artwork, created by British-Zambian artist Hannah Oer, was inspired by a video message from the Princess of Wales about her cancer diagnosis. The image captures the princess at the first state banquet of King Charles's reign in 2022 during the South Africa state visit. She is shown composed, standing, and facing forward in a regal, caped white Jenny Packham floor-length evening dress with sparkling details on her shoulders and her go-to tiara, the Lover's Knot. Despite the artist's intentions, the portrait has faced backlash online, with many royal fans questioning its likeness to her. One commenter wrote, "Sorry, as much as I love that you have her on the cover, art is subjective, but it looks nothing like the Princess of Wales. If she wasn't wearing that dress, I'd have no clue who it was meant to be."
The royal family has a knack for making headlines, and this portrait is no exception. The princess looked blissful as she made her way to the church last year. What none of us knew was that the picture hid a painful truth. Her bespoke Alexander McQueen look was flawless, with her three children impeccably turned out. However, the simple walk to the church would turn out to be the princess's final official engagement to date. From this distance, five months on, those photos of Catherine take on a whole new layer of meaning, especially when considering that the coming week will mark 150 days since then.
In late December 2023, the Princess of Wales looked as healthy and hearty as ever, with the coming year appearing bright for the House of Windsor. Controversial artist Hannah explained that the image on the magazine cover is set against a blue-green background, a nod to Catherine's eye color and her love of being in a garden and on water, reflecting her passion for rowing. Hannah admitted that Catherine's video about her cancer diagnosis influenced her work. She also expressed her admiration for the princess, noting her dignity, elegance, and grace, especially as she steps back from public duties to focus on her chemotherapy treatment. "She has really risen to her role; she was born for this. She carries herself with such dignity, elegance, and grace," Hannah said, adding that she senses the joy of Catherine's motherhood.
Recently, another royal portrait was revealed—the first official one of King Charles since his coronation. This portrait, created by Jonathan Yeo, shows the king with a butterfly on his shoulder, symbolizing his love for nature and his transformation from prince to monarch. The dramatic red hues of the painting also attracted attention. These portraits, while stirring mixed reactions, aim to capture the complex personalities and roles of the royal family members, offering new perspectives on their lives and duties.
Yeo's portrait of King Charles was completed after four sittings, beginning when His Majesty was still the Prince of Wales in 2021 at Highgrove and later at Clarence House. The last sitting took place in November 2023 at Clarence House. Yeo took inspiration from drawings and photographs he took of the King. "It was a privilege and pleasure to have been commissioned by the Drapers’ Company to paint this portrait of His Majesty the King, the first to be unveiled since his coronation," Yeo said. "When I started this project, His Majesty the King was still His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and much like the butterfly I've painted hovering over his shoulder, this portrait has evolved as the subject's role in public life has transformed. I do my best to capture the life experiences etched into any individual's face."
