40th birthday photos

Just imagine the bitching if Meghan had issued soft focussed airbrushed photos of herself.

Chalk and cheese. Imagine if Harry had been heir to the throne. Mrs Simpson Mark II.

I adore Catherine, we are so lucky as a nation to have her. That Meghan woman on the other hand….

Catherine did her own wedding makeup.

How can her ‘private side’ be portrayed by highly staged official portraits, as opposed to the photographs that she takes herself?

But so unnecessary with someone so beautiful.

Heavily photoshopped, I'd say.

Must admit that when I first saw the photos I did a double take as she was not the person I recognised from her public image – an image she wears very much in awareness that as the future Queen of England she has an expectation, perhaps an obligation, to look a certain way for her public. Always polished and poised with not a hair out of place and immaculate, though rather bold, makeup to define her features for the endless photos and videos taken of her.

When you compare her make up on her wedding day with that of these portraits she now looks far fresher, completely natural and yes actually younger than she did 10 years earlier. I don’t think there is any denying that the photographer has used a soft focus but this only enhances the ethereal feel. She will have worked with the photographer, hairdresser, make up artist and I expect a stylist, to achieve the look she wished to portray and will have had the final say on which, possibly from many taken, should be published. And after seeing her 2013 portrait by Paul Emsley (posted here) being likened to a dowdy 45 year old when she was actually only 31 who can blame her!

These images convey her message that there is another Kate in there that she would like to reveal to us – it's her private side, away from all the paparazzi, the public functions, the demands to always wear that public face.

This is Kate as she sees herself and I think these 40th birthday photos are simply stunning.

Absolutely agree with curlywhirly. Nuff said.

homefarm

Doesn't look like her at all - much to fat in the face.
Photoshopped?
Nice dress though.

Fat in the face!?!
I hate this emoji, but…???

She looks wonderful, such a beautiful young woman

I'm not sure that that look wasn't actually in her 20 years ago!

Doesn't look like her at all - much to fat in the face.
Photoshopped?
Nice dress though.

These photographs were taken by one of the worlds top fashion photographers, I
should think he knows his job and that Prince William and Catherine had the final
say in which photographs were released.

She has grown into her looks. Catherine used to be an ordinarily lovely girl and now she has something different.

When I first saw the photo in the red dress and had not read anything. Not realising who it was, I thought it was Alex Jones from the One Show ?

Agree with TanaMa.

Wishing her a Happy 40th birthday but disappointed that the photos look airbrushed - they don't look the natural lady we see in Press photos or family groups. Shame as she has a natural beauth that doesn't need to be 'glammed up'!!

Agree they don’t do her justice. She looks so gaunt and waif like

I just love seeing the interaction between Kate and William when you see them out together either on official business or family.
There is obviously so much love between them and they don't mind showing it.
They will make an amazing team when the time comes.

A lot of us just do because we like her.

Why does anyone care?

She looks so different, here: i2-prod.mylondon.news/incoming/article22480731.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/1_GettyImages-462718809.jpg

Flawless, or airbrushed? The jury is still out... www.mylondon.news/news/celebs/royal-family-fans-complain-kate-22690828

Beautiful photos.
I love that she will be Queen one day. I do hope I live long enough to see that (I should do, God willing). xx

I think Kate is so beautiful but these photos are disappointing.