A brand new portrait of the Princess of Wales is set to grace the cover of the latest edition of Tatler magazine, intended to honor her “courage and dignity.” However, many royal fans have expressed confusion and dismay over the portrayal, claiming it “looks nothing like her.”

The painting, created by British-Zambian artist Hannah Uzor, draws inspiration from Kate’s video message about her cancer diagnosis. The portrait captures Kate during the first state banquet of King Charles’s reign in 2022, held during the South African state visit.

She is depicted standing composed and facing forward in a regal, caped white Jenny Packham evening dress adorned with sparkling details on the shoulders, and wearing her favorite tiara, the Lover’s Knot.

Despite this, the portrait has faced significant backlash online. Many fans, responding to Tatler’s post of the magazine cover, have questioned the likeness. One commented, “Doesn’t look like Catherine at all. If she wasn’t wearing that dress, I’d have no clue who it’s meant to be.”

Another fan stated, “Sorry, as much as I love that you have the Princess of Wales on the cover, that looks nothing like her.” One more queried, “If it’s a portrait of Catherine, shouldn’t it at least look like her?” while another exclaimed, “Are you kidding me?” One royal fan added, “Oh heck, I know art is subjective, but it looks nothing like the Princess of Wales.”

The magazine cover image is set against a green-blue background, which the artist says is a nod to Kate’s eye color and evokes the experience of being in a garden and on water, reflecting the princess’s love of rowing. Uzor explained that Kate’s recent video message about her cancer diagnosis gave her a new perspective: “Without a doubt.

All my portraits are made up of layers of a personality, constructed from everything I can find about them.” She noted that the public address showed “a moment of dealing with something difficult, speaking from the heart, having the courage to tackle it head-on.”

Uzor expressed her admiration for Kate, who has stepped away from the public spotlight while undergoing chemotherapy. “She has really risen up to her role – she was born for this.

She carries herself with such dignity, elegance, and grace,” Uzor said. The artist, a mother of three like Kate, is based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, and added, “I sense with her the joy of motherhood.”

Uzor is the third artist commissioned by Tatler to paint a portrait of a member of the royal family, following Sarah Knights, who painted King Charles for the July 2023 cover, and Oluwole Omofemi, whose tribute to Queen Elizabeth II featured on the Platinum Jubilee issue in 2022.

This unveiling comes shortly after the release of the first official portrait of King Charles since his coronation. Jonathan Yeo’s striking depiction of the monarch shows Charles bathed in a dramatic red hue, featuring a butterfly on his shoulder at the King’s suggestion, symbolizing his love of nature and his transformation from prince to monarch.