That's Kate Middleton? Critics Slam New Royal Coin
LONDON (CBS/AP) Britain's Royal Mint has released a commemorative coin celebrating the engagement of Prince William and Kate Middleton - but critics say the future princess has a right to be horrified.
Images of the couple on the memento bear little resemblance to either the prince or his 28-year-old bride-to-be. Middleton appears plump in the face and lips and has bags under her eyes. Some critics claim William looks like Al Gore. (See both sides of the coin below.)
PICTURES: Prince William and Kate Middleton
PICTURES: Kate Middleton
SPECIAL SECTION: The Royal Wedding
Available in silver or gold, the 5-pound ($7.70) coin marks the April 29 wedding of the second-in-line to the British throne.
A Royal Mint spokesman insisted to the Guardian that the design had been through a "rigorous approval process."
The inspiration for the design reportedly came from photographs of the couple at a sporting event, and had been approved by Queen Elizabeth II and William.
Ingrid Seward of Majesty magazine told Britain's Sky News on Thursday it was "ridiculous" that the images were so poor. But Dickie Arbiter, a former royal spokesman, says it's often difficult to produce accurate images on a coin.
