Princess Charlotte's Christening Portraits Are 'Fake PR Nonsense,' Says Art Critic

Royal watchers were all but delighted when they saw the official portraits of Princess Charlotte’s christening. Mario Testino, who was the official photographer during the baptism, received praises for his wonderful shots showing the royal family all smiles for the camera. However, one art critic was none too pleased and instead shared his criticisms about Testino’s photos.

Art critic Jonathan Jones called Mario Testino’s photos of the royal family during Princess Charlotte’s christening as “a sickly sweet lie.” On his article on The Guardian, Jones described Testino’s portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as “fake PR nonsense” meant to show an “impossibly perfect people with impossibly perfect children.” Jones said Testino has robbed the Cambridges of their “true personality through his faux-honest glamour shot.”

According to Jonathan Jones, Mario Testino’s photos seem to provide mere propaganda with its lack of any emotional depth and likened them to today’s royal portraiture which he described as “openly deceitful.” Jones, who has appeared in the BBC television series "Private Life of a Masterpiece" and in 2009 was a judge for the "Turner Prize," claimed Testino’s portraits of Kate Middleton and Prince William with their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte, even photos of the Cambridges with the royal family, prove the royals have become too valuable to publicity that they are not allowed to be real even through pictures.

“Testino’s pictures of Princess Charlotte’s christening -- which also include a more formal group portrait with the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Charles and Camilla and more -- in fact consciously hark back to older traditions on royal portraiture,” he wrote.

However, Forbes called Mario Testino’s portraits of the royal family during Princess Charlotte’s christening as a broadcast of truth. His photos reportedly show a loving and happy family who feels comfortable with every public exposure. Forbes also complimented Testino for his shot of Prince George and Prince William, since he had reportedly made the usual grumpy toddler smile for the camera. In this photo shared by the site, Prince George flashes his toothy grin for the camera as he is being carried by Prince William.

Mario Testino is among the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s favourite photographers. He is a renowned photographer whose portraits include that of the late Princess Diana. His work has appeared in museums and art galleries and even landed in prestigious magazines including Vogue and Vanity Fair.

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