Hamburg's Panoptikum museum has presented its latest wax creation depicting Princess Kate, though the figure has prompted bewilderment among some observers who question whether it truly captures the royal's appearance.
The German attraction added the Princess of Wales to its celebrity lineup, which already features the likes of Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift.
Artist Lisa Buscher led the team responsible for crafting the figure, with work commencing back in August.
Despite months of effort, the finished piece has drawn mixed responses, with the likeness described as close but falling short of an exact match to the princess.
Princess Kate wax figure sparks bewilderment with unrecognisable features
|GETTY / INSTAGRAM: PANOPTIKUM HAMBURG
The statue showcases Kate dressed in a dark green sequined gown designed by Jenny Packham, representing one of her most memorable fashion moments.
The princess first stepped out in this striking ensemble during the 2019 royal visit to Pakistan, later wearing it again for a Royal Variety Performance held at the Royal Albert Hall.
Standing at 1.75 metres tall, the wax figure weighs just 15kg, making it substantially lighter than the actual princess.
Both the eyes and teeth were individually constructed using resin, with the creative team paying meticulous attention to replicating every detail of Kate's distinctive appearance.
Ms Buscher revealed that her team pored over hundreds of photographs of the princess, carefully extracting minute details from each image to inform their work.
Perfecting Kate's smile proved the most demanding aspect of the project, requiring approximately 30 hours of painstaking effort.
"Because every photo was taken from a different angle, the smile is always just a tiny bit different," Ms Buscher explained.
The artist also ensured Kate's trademark cosmetic style was faithfully reproduced, describing the approach as "royally understated."
Princess Kate wearing the green dress for the first time in 2019 in Pakistan
|PA
LATEST ROYAL NEWS:
Princess Kate wearing the dress again at the Royal Variety Show in 2021
|PA
"Of course, Kate's signature eyeliner couldn't be missing, complemented by light smoky eyes," she said of recreating the Princess's recognisable beauty look.
The Panoptikum has previous form when it comes to controversial royal representations, having sparked debate in 2022 with a Queen Elizabeth II figure featuring only half a wig that exposed her bare scalp beneath a hat.
Dr Susanne Faerber, the museum's managing partner, defended that decision at the time, stating: "It is a waxwork, not the real person, this should always be kept in mind."
Kate's figure now takes its place beside the late Queen among more than 120 famous personalities from across the globe.
Dr Faerber emphasised the Princess's broad appeal: "Princess Catherine is incredibly well-known. Five-year-old's know her just as well as 95-year-olds."