The first official portrait of HRH the Duchess of Cambridge - Kate Middleton as was - has been put on display at the National Portrait Gallery - and it's a disaster. Painted by Paul Emsley, who won the 2007 BP Portrait Prize, it makes the Duchess look puffy and facelifted - a little like Barbara Cartland, Princess Diana's stepmother.

Based on the image sent round by the National Portrait Gallery, the Duchess stares amusedly out of the darkness, most of the light in the picture seemingly generated by her hair. There is a certain cruelty in the eyes too. If I were the Duchess, I'd be sticking this one up in the attic.

This blog first appeared on Spear's