Kate Middleton gets Photoshop treatment on cover of Marie Claire South Africa

Kate Middleeton had her face Photoshopped onto a model's body in a recent magazine cover. 

The Duchess of Cambridge dons a South African designer dress in the disturbin

Kate Middleton is one of today's most sought-after cover stars, but it appears one magazine has finally snagged the royal for its front cover - well, sort of.

For the August issue of Marie Claire South Africa, the Duchess of Cambridge appears dressed in a creation by famed South African designer Clive Rundle, sporting a megawatt smile while posing with her hand on her hip.

The only problem is, however, that the brunette beauty is clearly not Middleton, but the work of a fan of Photoshop instead.

“We were so inspired by her fairytale wedding and her life as a modern-day princess, which is why we elected Kate Middleton as our cover star for the August issue,” editor Aspasia Karras told UK’s The Telegraph.

“The cover is actually a hyper-real illustration of Kate, meant to be a fan art tribute to fashion’s new royal icon,” she explained.

The feedback has been swift and harsh.

A  Kate Middleton appears on the cover of Marie Claire South Africa 

“So she didn’t actually pose for the cover? How is that a good thing?” one commentor wrote on the Telegraph website. “Aren’t you cheating your readers as well as your cover subject?”

Middleton, 30, has long been in high demand as a cover girl by the likes of Vogue, but has yet to make a real appearance on any major publication.

This isn’t the first time Prince William’s wife has been Photoshopped onto the cover of a magazine.

For this year’s July 12 issue, The New Republic featured Middleton on its cover sporting rotting yellow teeth.