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A new portrait of the Princess of Wales is continuing to cause controversy after some criticised the work upon its release for looking nothing like her.
The painting, by British-Zambian artist Hannah Uzor, features on the forthcoming edition of Tatler magazine and was created in honour of the Princess’s “courage and dignity” when announcing her cancer diagnosis.
Other criticisms include claims that the painting does not do the princess justice, with some commentators believing that a true likeness could not be captured in a portrait that the princess did not sit for.
The debate comes after it emerged that Meghan Markle also visited Malta to trace her ancestry.
The now Duchess of Sussex made the trip in 2015 because the country is “the land from which my great-grandmother hailed.”
She recalled: “Before I came, people were telling me, ‘When you go to Malta, everyone will look like you,’ and I started to say, ‘Oh my gosh I do sort of blend in,’ and it’s the loveliest feeling.”
The throwback comes after Meghan recently revealed that she is 43 percent Nigerian on her recent tour of the country with Prince Harry, where she thanked locals for “welcoming me home”.
New Princess Diana exhibition arriving in London
Taken by Anwar Hussein, now 86, and his sons Samir, 44, and Zak, 43, Princess Diana: Accredited Access Exhibition is set to be a must-see for fans of the late Princess.
It contains “larger than life images, bespoke art installations and first-hand narration” that give viewers a unique glimpse into the royal’s life.
The exhibition is opening on 25 May at St Katharine Docks in London after being met with critical acclaim in Melbourne, South Carolina and Las Vegas.
Emma Guinness23 May 2024 11:45
Inside Meghan Markle’s trip to Malta
This took place in 2015 shortly before she met Prince Harry and she chose to visit the country as it is “the land from which my great-grandmother hailed.”
“Before I came, people were telling me, ‘When you go to Malta, everyone will look like you,’ and I started to say, ‘Oh my gosh I do sort of blend in,’ and it’s the loveliest feeling,” she remembered.
The Duchess of Sussex experienced a similar sense of belonging on her recent trip to Nigeria with Prince Harry, which she described as “my country” and thanked locals for “welcoming me home”.
Emma Guinness23 May 2024 10:00
The events King Charles will still attend after election annoucement
Buckingham Palace has announced that King Charles will not attend any upcoming events that could “distract” from the general election campaign.
He will, however, still attend major events including the D-Day commemorations and the ongoing series of garden parties at Buckingham Palace will be unaffected.
It has been reported that all upcoming engagements will now be reviewed on a case-by-case basis in light of yesterday’s general election announcement.
The change comes after the King made it clear that he wanted to throw himself back into public life after he was forced to step back earlier this year following his cancer diagnosis.
He has been so keen to work that he attended five events in 48 hours last week.
Emma Guinness23 May 2024 08:13
Sunak and King met at Buckingham Palace
Rishi Sunak revealed he spoke with the King on Wednesday to inform him of his decision to have a general election, and the King had agreed to the request for the dissolution of Parliament.
The Palace said Charles met Mr Sunak in person at Buckingham palace in London on Wednesday afternoon, following Charles’ Prince’s Trust Awards engagement.
They spent around 15 minutes together in the King‘s private audience room, in place of their normal weekly meeting on Wednesday evening.
The King, who is still undergoing treatment for cancer, has carried out a flurry of engagements since restarting public appearances in April and now has a number of duties ahead of him after the Prime Minister announced his plan for the country to go to the polls.
Jane Dalton23 May 2024 04:30
Prince of Wales also pulls out of engagements
Heir to the throne the Prince of Wales has also pulled out of a day of previously unannounced engagements for Thursday, after Kensington Palace received updated guidance from Buckingham Palace following the announcement of the general election.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution garden party on Thursday, marking the 200th anniversary of the lifesaving charity, will still go ahead, with thousands of guests set to descend on the Palace.
Charles, who has only just returned to public-facing duties after his cancer diagnosis, and Camilla never were due to attend the outdoor gathering.
But the King‘s public engagements for the rest of the week are now off - including a visit to Crewe on Friday to tour a Bentley factory and a community centre which supports people struggling financially, and another as yet-not publicly announced event that was due to happen elsewhere on Thursday.
It is understood the move is not a blanket approach to future events, and engagements will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Jane Dalton23 May 2024 02:00
A week for royal portraits
Both paintings, which are abstract in their own ways, received mixed reactions online.
The exhibition celebrates over 100 years of royal portrait photography and features previously unseen images.
Emma Guinness23 May 2024 00:00
King and Queen apologise as they postpone engagements
The royal family has postponed engagements “which may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign” after Rishi Sunak called a surprise summer General Election.
Buckingham Palace said the King and Queen sent their “sincere apologies” to those affected, after Charles agreed on Wednesday to the Prime Minister’s request to dissolve Parliament for an election - for the first time in his reign.
The King and Queen’s D-Day 80th anniversary appearances in Portsmouth and Normandy in June are expected to go ahead as scheduled, but the announcement of a 4 July vote disrupted other events in the carefully planned forthcoming royal diaries.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “Following the Prime Minister’s statement this afternoon calling a General Election, the royal family will, in accordance with normal procedure, postpone engagements that may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign.
“Their Majesties send their sincere apologies to any of those who may be affected as a result.”
Jane Dalton22 May 2024 22:06
Dec ‘breaks’ royal protocol to explain why Ant is missing to King Charles
Declan Donnelly “broke” royal protocol when he told King Charles why Ant McPartlin was not present at today’s reception for Prince’s Trust award winners.
“I don’t know whether I broke royal protocol by giving that information,” he laughed.
Emma Guinness22 May 2024 22:00