Prince George's black-and-white birthday portrait divides fans. Is this style really suitable for the 11‑year-old?
Prince George is celebrating his 11th birthday today. On this occasion, a black-and-white photo of the birthday boy taken by Kate Middleton appeared on social media. The style of the photos has sparked many emotions among internet users. The royal photographer decided to speak out about coloring the "controversial" portrait.
3:58 PM EDT, July 22, 2024
The daily life of the British royal family has fascinated fans worldwide for years. On July 22, the eldest son of William and Kate, Prince George, turned 11 years old. According to tradition, a portrait of the birthday boy, taken by Princess Kate, was posted on the couple's social media.
George posed for the photo in a white shirt and black suit. However, the black-and-white photograph of the child caused quite a stir, particularly due to the technique used. The birthday post garnered numerous comments, though not everyone appreciated the portrait's presentation.
The royal photographer explains why Prince George's photo is in black and white
The former royal photographer decided to speak about the black-and-white photos of Prince George taken by Kate. In an interview with the British "Express," Ian Pelham-Turner stated that the Duchess opts for black-and-white photos because they are fashionable and stylish. The photographer also added that the royal family has always preferred black-and-white photos, and he used to take such photos in the past.
Black and white images are starker and more focused, avoiding the distractions color can bring. This method aligns with her training, which often starts with film cameras and progresses to black and white photography, he noted.
When I was a commissioned royal photographer, they loved black and white photography. I took William's first Christmas baby shoot with Charles and Diana, and most of it was done in black and white because it was trendy then, added Pelham-Turner in an interview with the Express.
The royal photographer noticed that Princess Kate, who trained in photography at Kensington and Chelsea Art College, not only follows in the footsteps of other royal photographers but also developed her own sense of aesthetics. Pelham-Turner did not spare warm words for the king's daughter-in-law.
When you go through that type of college training they normally use film cameras to start off with and then they go to black and white. So for her having a black and white image is just something that's quite trendy for her. The idea is to produce an image that is quite stylish, he stated in an interview with the aforementioned service.