Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge received her first official royal portrait, created by award winning artist Paul Emsley. Kate was painted with a faint smile looking towards the viewer its viewer. The portrait received mix reviews from critics. 

Critics weighed in on the unveiling of Kate's portrait saying it looked "pretty ordinary." The Sunday Times art critic Waldemar Januszczack said "the portrait made [Middleton] look older than she is and her eyes don't sparkle in the way that they do," Robin Simon, of the British Art Journal said the portrait was "Rotten," adding ,"the Duchess of Cambridge looks nothing like this in real life," according to Daily Mail.

Kate responded to the new portrait saying "It's just amazing, I thought it was brilliant," and The Duke of Cambridge William view of the portrait was "absolutely beautiful."

Richard Stone renown royal portrait artist said "I liked it, very much so. So often with official portraits they can be rather stiff and starchy, but this has a lovely informality about it, and a warmth to it." according to Mirror. 

Emsley, comment that "I was delighted to get the commission and then after that it began to sink in to me how important this would be," adding, "A person whose image is so pervasive, for an artist it is really difficult to go beyond that, I hope I've succeeded." 

Did Emsley really make Kate look older in her portrait?