40th birthday photos

Agree with TanaMa.

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 ?

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

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.

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

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

She looks wonderful, such a beautiful young woman

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…???

Absolutely agree with curlywhirly. Nuff said.

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.

Heavily photoshopped, I'd say.

But so unnecessary with someone so beautiful.

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?

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

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

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

As I’m sure she has.

She does, often.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202201/medium-27182-images-jpeg-3.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202201/medium-961140-images-jpeg-4.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202201/medium-64584-347329.jpg

A bit of digging in Art journals reveals 19th century photographer Julia Margaret Cameron who apparently Catherine studied as a specialist subject while at University. Some of her photography hangs in the V & A museum. There seems to be some likeness in the chosen style and poses, (though I haven't a clue who the people are in the portraits).

CoolCoco

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

There's quite a bit of bitching over Catherine on this thread, discussing the shape of her face, fat in the face, too thin, photoshopped, etc etc. It's not confined to Meghan.

I do not like these photos - they are too posed, too manipulated, too poncey. She looks artificial. Like a shop window dummy.

Dreadful photography!! Even with such a perfect subject managed to make Kate look CGI version of who? Over processed prints trying too hard, I prefer the film of the family in the dunes, natural happy beautiful. These? I wouldn't pay the fee!

I think the critiques of the photos has been misinterpreted as critiques of the subject.not so!! Those of us who know see these for what they are- really not very good.

Sophrosyne

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.

Softar lenses are usually used for smoothing complexions or blurring landscapes etc.not for such an absolutely beautiful young woman. This blurring And over flattening of the facial contours has destroyed her wonderful complexion , bone structure endearing dimples and her sparkle. I see what is being attempted but afraid it's a fail!

They must be good photos as the photographer would have been a highly paid professional. It’s the hair and makeup that are the problem.