Nigerian artist Oluwole Omofemi presents Prince William with a fuller head of hair in a striking new portrait for the cover of Tatler’s June edition.
Portrait Highlights
The heir to the throne appears beaming on the cover, dressed in a navy suit and blue tie against a vibrant yellow background. The artwork, part of Tatler’s annual Commonwealth portrait series, carries the caption ‘A prince for our times.’
This bright yellow setting echoes Omofemi’s portrait of Queen Elizabeth II from four years prior, which captured her with a youthful appearance reminiscent of her post-coronation image in 1953, featuring dark hair and smooth skin.
Prince William’s Hair Evolution
Often photographed with a bushy haircut during the 1990s, Prince William has not publicly addressed his hair loss, which started in his early 20s. Male pattern baldness, a hereditary condition, impacts up to 50 percent of men by age 50.
Omofemi’s depiction aligns with a longstanding artistic practice of enhancing subjects’ features for a more flattering presentation.
Historical Precedents
One notable example is Hans Holbein the Younger’s 1539 portrait of Anne of Cleves, which secured her betrothal to Henry VIII. The king later ended the arrangement, reportedly likening her to a ‘Flanders mare.’
Elizabeth I’s Armada portrait also received artistic enhancements, showing her with vivid red hair and flawless skin despite her history with smallpox.
Last year’s Tatler June edition featured a portrait of King Charles and Queen Camilla by Philip Butah, marking their 20th wedding anniversary.
