Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Style at Large
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Cummerbund Belts
    • October Books
    • Janine Nabers
    • 2026 Beauty Awards
    • COS New Arrivals
    • VSFW
    1. Celebrity

    Kate Middleton and Prince William Drank Beer and Played Soccer After a Kind of Uncomfortable Portrait Unveiling

    They looked uncharacteristically nervous.

    Iris Goldsztajn's avatar
    By Iris Goldsztajn
    Published 24 June 2022 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit Cambridgeshire
    (Image credit: Photo by WPA Pool / Getty)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    If there's one given that all royal commentators agree on these days, it's that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge show a huge amount of confidence as individuals and as a couple—confidence which they didn't display as much of in the early days of their marriage.

    But there are exceptions to every rule, and while attending their first joint painted portrait unveiling, Prince William and Kate Middleton seemed a little uncomfortable. TO BE FAIR, anyone would feel a bit weird about having a gigantic painting of themselves just, like, hanging in a museum gallery.

    ICYMI, the Cambridges were honored with a painting in their image on June 23, in their dukedom of Cambridge, at the University's Fitzwilliam Museum. The portrait was created by artist Jamie Coreth, and is literally larger than life.

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    A post shared by Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@dukeandduchessofcambridge)

    For body language expert Darren Stanton, although the royal couple was obviously very grateful to be commemorated in that way, they also found it a little bit awkward to have to stare at themselves, and engage in what I imagine will have been some amount of appreciative nodding.

    "While at the unveiling the couple seemed a little hesitant and nervous, which is rare," Stanton tells Marie Claire on behalf of Slingo.

    You may like
    • Princess Kate wears a green blazer a Breton striped top and Prince William has a bald head and wears a navy suit William and Kate's "True Feelings" Were on Full Display
    • Princess Kate wears a pink gown to attend the BAFTAs 2026 with husband Prince William who has a bald head, a beard, and is wearing a burgundy velvet jacket Princess Kate's "Inhibitions Are Being Jettisoned"
    • Prince William Princess Kate dating Royal Editor Reveals the “Sincere” Advice Given To Kate Middleton While Dating Prince William

    "For Kate and William they are usually attending events supporting charities, visiting hospitals, etc. to show their support; however, the unveiling was focused on them.

    "Their body language during the unveiling suggests they felt it was slightly self-indulgent, despite their first portrait being a milestone in their royal history."

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit Cambridgeshire

    (Image credit: Photo by WPA Pool / Getty)

    But after taking in the portrait, the Cambridges were able to do more of what they're used to: interact with crowds of royal fans and representatives from various local organizations.

    "Kate and William were more than happy to attend the unveiling, but appeared a little lost for words on seeing the extravagance of the portrait, leaving them slightly overwhelmed," Stanton continues. "However, when the pair were later seen interacting with the locals, they seemed far more relaxed."

    The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit Cambridgeshire

    (Image credit: Photo by WPA Pool / Getty)

    The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit Cambridgeshire

    (Image credit: Photo by WPA Pool / Getty)

    The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit Cambridgeshire

    (Image credit: Photo by WPA Pool / Getty)

    In a very charming turn of events, the Cambridges were spotted drinking beer and kicking soccer balls (the duchess in heels, which, impressive). This was all part of Cambridgeshire County Day celebrations.

    What to read next
    • Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince George, Prince William, and Princess Kate in Scotland on August 1, 2026 Princess Kate and Prince William Aren't "Lazy"
    • Prince William princess Kate royal duties Prince William and Princess Kate’s “Actions Speak Louder Than Words” When it Comes to Harry and Meghan, Says Royal Expert
    • Prince William and Princess Kate walking next to each other and smiling in fall outfits Prince William and Princess Kate's Secret Weekend Getaway Revealed

    "We saw Kate letting her hair down as she kicked a football in her heels and drank beer with William," Stanton observes.

    "It’s moments like these that reiterate just how relatable Kate and Will are as a couple and it reminds the public that the pair are two 40-year-olds enjoying life like normal 40-year-olds would."

    On the day, the royals also visited housing charity Jimmy's, and children's hospice EACH.

    The duchess also gazed lovingly at her husband, in a lovely return to business as usual.

    The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit Cambridgeshire

    (Image credit: Photo by Max Mumby / Indigo / Getty)

    Oh, and by the way, if you were eyeing Middleton's outfit, here's her LK Bennett dress in a slightly different print, and her Emmy London pumps and clutch.

    The Duke & Duchess Of Cambridge Visit Cambridgeshire

    (Image credit: Photo by Neil Mockford / Getty)
    Explore More
    princess catherine Prince William
    Iris Goldsztajn
    Iris Goldsztajn
    Social Links Navigation
    Morning Editor

    Iris Goldsztajn is a London-based journalist, editor and author. She is the morning editor at Marie Claire, and her work has appeared in the likes of British Vogue, InStyle, Cosmopolitan, Refinery29 and SELF. Iris writes about everything from celebrity news and relationship advice to the pitfalls of diet culture and the joys of exercise. She has many opinions on Harry Styles, and can typically be found eating her body weight in cheap chocolate.

    Read more
    Prince William princess Kate royal duties
    Royals Prince William and Princess Kate’s “Actions Speak Louder Than Words” When it Comes to Harry and Meghan, Says Royal Expert
    By Christine Ross
    Prince William and Princess Kate walking next to each other and smiling in fall outfits
    Royals Prince William and Princess Kate's Secret Weekend Getaway Revealed
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Prince William holding a cricket bat
    Royals Prince William "Doesn't Rest on His Laurels as a Future King," Says Royal Expert
    By Kristin Contino
    Princess Kate wearing a green cap holding an umbrella and grimacing
    Royals Princess Kate Proves She Can't Quit This Royal Habit
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Latest in Celebrity
    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle walking in front of a large sign on a building that says CLUB
    Royals Prince Harry and Meghan Markle "Never Agreed" to Their Working Arrangement
    Bella Hadid celebrated her 30th birthday in a vintage Roberto Cavalli corset and a matching midi skirt
    Celebrity Style This Vintage Roberto Cavalli Corset Is Bella Hadid's Best 30th Birthday Present
     
     
    Jennifer Lawrence accessorized her denim biking outfit with a studded belt, a leading trend for Spring 2027
    Celebrity Style Spring 2027's Top Accessory Trend Finishes Jennifer Lawrence's Biking Look
    Meghan Markle pulling up the collar on her coat and smiling
    Royals Meghan Markle's Bare Ears and Simple Rings "Send a Powerful Message"
     
     
    Latest in News
    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle walking in front of a large sign on a building that says CLUB
    Royals Prince Harry and Meghan Markle "Never Agreed" to Their Working Arrangement
    Bella Hadid celebrated her 30th birthday in a vintage Roberto Cavalli corset and a matching midi skirt
    Celebrity Style This Vintage Roberto Cavalli Corset Is Bella Hadid's Best 30th Birthday Present
     
     
    Jennifer Lawrence accessorized her denim biking outfit with a studded belt, a leading trend for Spring 2027
    Celebrity Style Spring 2027's Top Accessory Trend Finishes Jennifer Lawrence's Biking Look
    Meghan Markle pulling up the collar on her coat and smiling
    Royals Meghan Markle's Bare Ears and Simple Rings "Send a Powerful Message"
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.