Kate Middleton’s first official portrait

Kate Middleton’s first official portrait unveiled; ‘absolutely beautiful’, says Prince William

Members
of the media talk to artist Paul Emsley, center right, in front of his
newly-commissioned portrait of Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, on display at
the National Portrait Gallery in London, Friday, Jan. 11, 2013. (AP
Photo/Sang Tan)

LONDON – Royalty has many perks. There are titles, guards, and
palaces. As the former Kate Middleton has discovered, you also get
portraits.

The first official portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge, as Kate is
formally known, was unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery on Friday.

Paul Emsley’s portrait shows the 31-year-old royal against a dark background with her lips pursed into a wry smile.

Kate and Prince William, who are expecting their first child, were on
hand at the gallery for the portrait’s unveiling. Kate told Emsley it
was “just amazing.” Her husband liked it too, calling it “absolutely
beautiful.”

Emsley told reporters that Kate wanted the portrait to “convey her natural self as opposed to her official self.”


Members of the media photograph the
newly-commissioned portrait of Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, by artist
Paul Emsley on display at the National Portrait Gallery in London,
Friday, Jan. 11, 2013. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)



Artist Paul Emsley poses for photographers
next to his newly-commissioned portrait of Kate, Duchess of Cambridge,
on display at the National Portrait Gallery in London, Friday, Jan. 11,