'It Is a Fantastic Story': Kate Middleton Portrait Artist Defends 'Terrible' Composite of Future Queen

Catherine, Princess of Wales' portrait in Tatler is still generating negative opinions, but its artist, Hannah Uzor, broke her silence to respond to the controversy surrounding the composite.

"It is a fantastic story, and they [critics] can do what they want," she told an outlet in defense of her artwork.

The image also found prominent art critic Alastair Sooke describe it as "egregiously, intolerably, jaw-hits-the-floor bad."

The portrait set off a wave of backlash from the future queen's fans online, with one writing on X: "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."

The comments section underneath the post was filled with numerous negative insights when compared to positive remarks. "If it’s a portrait of Catherine, shouldn’t it at least have looked like her?" one person stated. Another shared: "Are you kidding me?" while yet another quipped: "Oh heck, I know art is subjective, but it looks nothing like the Princess of Wales."

Her Royal Highness' portrait was created in recognition of her "strength and courage." The work, created by the British-Zambian artist drew inspiration from Kate's March 22 video message to the nation following her cancer diagnosis. The painting portrays the princess during the King's first state banquet in 2022, held during the South African presidential visit.

She is depicted standing confidently in an elegant, floor-length white Jenny Packham evening gown adorned with sparkling shoulder details, complemented by her signature Lover's Knot Tiara, which was famously worn by her late mother-in-law, Diana, Princess of Wales.

When asked by the publication if the future Queen Consort's cancer battle factored into her artistry, 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 painter added that Kate's video depicted "a moment of dealing with something difficult, speaking from the heart, having the courage to tackle it head-on."

She continued: "She has really risen up to her role — she was born for this. She carries herself with such dignity, elegance and grace."

This follows a U.K. Mother's Day image Kate released that initiated a huge scandal due to its being "obviously heavily edited," in which HRH issued a public apology. As part of the "Where's Kate?" online hashtag of conspiracies in the early part of the year, the doctored pic led to the princess releasing her clip discussing her struggles with cancer. One royal insider said this was her way to "silence the madness" of the "smear campaigns."

The Princess of Wales continues to recuperate from preventative chemotherapy treatments at both Adelaide Cottage and Anmer Hall.

Daily Express reported on Uzor's remarks.