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Duchess of Cambridge 40th birthday photographs

210 replies

eternalopt · 09/01/2022 08:14

Pictures released of the Duchess for her 40th - she looks amazing! Love her hair like that www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-family/kate-middleton-duchess-cambridge-photos-birthday-b1989379.html?amp

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RoyalFamilyFan · 09/01/2022 18:55

@smilesy there is nothing wrong with controversial portraits. Although with the Queen the controversy has simply been looking her age. But this isn't truly controversial. It just does not look like Kate and makes no sense. Why release a photo when it looks nothing like her?

RoyalFamilyFan · 09/01/2022 18:55

@SallyLockheart

I would consider that they are are celebration photos not PR. They are to be formally hung in a national gallery and no doubt will be followed by other formal portrai photos when Catherine is 50, 60 etc. The PR photos are the Christmas cards, children’s birthdays, attending Earthshot etc
Of course they are PR photos.
SallyLockheart · 09/01/2022 18:57

So when the Queen has portraits done, are they just PR?

RoyalFamilyFan · 09/01/2022 18:59

There is no just about it. But yes the are PR.

batmanladybird · 09/01/2022 19:08

ANyone know where these boots are from?

batmanladybird · 09/01/2022 19:11

ARGH image didn't attach

batmanladybird · 09/01/2022 19:13

???

Duchess of Cambridge 40th birthday photographs
smilesy · 09/01/2022 19:20

@RoyalFamilyFan maybe because she likes them. And they are not just about PR, whatever you say. She is entitled to celebrate her birthday with any photos she chooses.

RoyalFamilyFan · 09/01/2022 19:21

She can have whatever photos she wants. But as soon as you release them formally, they are PR.

derxa · 09/01/2022 19:30

twitter.com/RevRichardColes/status/1480152722351529984
Women telling the Rev Richard Coles why dresses should have pockets!

RussiasGreatestLoveMachine · 09/01/2022 19:33

They are portrait photos released for a milestone birthday. Nothing more, nothing less.
All royals do it.

Kate is obviously happy with them, as is the Palace.

They are an excellent PR exercise, as everyone is talking about then.

In a few days, the furore will die down, and the world will continue spinning on its axis. Just like every other time portraits have been released for our consumption.

The critiques and suggested alternatives that Kate should have considered (by random MNers, no less) are just a bit Confused / Grin

derxa · 09/01/2022 19:44

@RussiasGreatestLoveMachine

They are portrait photos released for a milestone birthday. Nothing more, nothing less. All royals do it.

Kate is obviously happy with them, as is the Palace.

They are an excellent PR exercise, as everyone is talking about then.

In a few days, the furore will die down, and the world will continue spinning on its axis. Just like every other time portraits have been released for our consumption.

The critiques and suggested alternatives that Kate should have considered (by random MNers, no less) are just a bit Confused / Grin

Perfectly put
Pallisers · 09/01/2022 19:44

I don't think the photos do her justice and I don't think they are good as photos either. They really don't capture her at all. And the airbrushing/whatever they did isn't good. She is a good looking woman who has a lovely smile. no idea why she was filtered so much.

The first one is nothing like her. It resembles my dd's 18 year old friend Giovanna more than it does the DoC imo :) The dresses look lovely and the last photo is nice but not startlingly good like some of the photos of the queen or Princess of Wales were good.

The last one (the best one imo) is definitely channeling Elizabeth Empress of Austria www.google.com/search?q=elisabeth+of+austria&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjsqsmGt6X1AhUJhuAKHeYMAEUQ_AUoAXoECAIQAw#imgrc=vp1jqyUx2LUhsM

ethelredonagoodday · 09/01/2022 19:57

I also think most of them don't actually look like her! They make her look less pretty than she appears to be! Bizarre!

Roussette · 09/01/2022 19:57

That's funny derxa!

Pockets have become a real thing! I don't like them in dresses, they make my ample hips look bigger!

RoyalFamilyFan · 09/01/2022 20:15

I have no issue with a dress off one shoulder.
But why was it vulgar and against Rotal protocol when Meghan wore one, and not when Kate does?

AnnunciataZ · 09/01/2022 20:21

God only knows @RoyalFamilyFan. There's photos of the Queen herself wearing strapless dresses!

ajandjjmum · 09/01/2022 20:23

[quote RoyalFamilyFan]@StormzyinaTCup I also suggested a more formal alternative.
The point is that the concept does not ring true because Kate is not a moderniser and we have been told that for the last so many years by their PR.
It is why I think so many are critical as it makes no sense and has no authenticity.[/quote]
She's not a moderniser (you say), so what's the issue with having portraits done loosely based on a traditional theme?

RoyalFamilyFan · 09/01/2022 20:23

Yes the same people who bash Meghan for this, sing Kates praises for the same thing.

RoyalFamilyFan · 09/01/2022 20:24

@ajandjjmum those explaining the concept behind the photos were saying the last photo was to show her as a moderniser.

ajandjjmum · 09/01/2022 20:27

[quote RoyalFamilyFan]@smilesy these arént private family photos. For your own photos, do what you want. These are public PR photos, and the concept behind them doesn't hold up.
I mean they wont do her any harm, but her PR firm could have used them to increase her popularity. Yes I know she is popular, but these photos will have no impact on that.
Diana's flackjacket photo did help to boost her popularity.
It is just a wasted PR moment.[/quote]
This is not a PR stunt.

The National Portrait Gallery commissioned the photographs to commemorate the 40th birthday of their patron.

I'm sure that they gave more than a little guidance as to what they were looking for - and if I were them, I'd be thrilled with the result. Three different aspects of a very attractive woman.

RoyalFamilyFan · 09/01/2022 20:28

PR is not a stunt. It is about how you portray someone in the public eye, to that public.
You seem to have an issue with the whole concept? The RF website is PR.

ajandjjmum · 09/01/2022 20:32

[quote RoyalFamilyFan]@ajandjjmum those explaining the concept behind the photos were saying the last photo was to show her as a moderniser.[/quote]
That was their interpretation - which is absolutely fair enough.

I don't see them like that. I see regal Catherine, sassy Kate (red dress) and happy, beautiful mum/wife. But that's my opinion - everyone is entitled to their own.

RussiasGreatestLoveMachine · 09/01/2022 21:14

It absolutely is a PR exercise (of course it is) and it’s a successful one.

That some people don’t like them or don’t think Kate looks her best - or even good - in them, could not be less relevant. You’re never going to please everyone all of the time.

Everyone’s talking about them, sharing them, discussing them, publicising them.

Therefore - a highly successful PR exercise.

Roussette · 09/01/2022 21:19

Yes I agree Russia and all members of the RF have official portraits done, especially Kate who will be queen at some point.
Whether we like them or not is irrelevant!