Kate Middleton’s Mother’s Day photo remains controversial after being pulled due to noticeable edits.
Portrait photographer Martin Bamford pointed out on X that Princess Charlotte’s wrist showed signs of Photoshop layering, calling the edits “weird.”
Kate took responsibility, posting on X: “Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused.”
Kensington Palace later confirmed they would not release the original unedited version.
Major agencies, including AP, Reuters, Getty, and AFP, issued “kill notices” after determining the image had been manipulated.
The Associated Press retracted the Kensington Palace photo after detecting manipulation, specifically noting an inconsistency in Princess Charlotte’s left hand. This led to heightened scrutiny of the Palace’s credibility.
Royal expert Katie Nicholl pointed out that four major international agencies pulling a royal image is unprecedented, suggesting this could pressure Kensington Palace to be more transparent.
Phil Chetwynd, AFP’s global news director, stated that the Palace is no longer considered a fully trusted source. He emphasized that news agencies are now exercising extra caution, even with previously reliable sources.
He added that kill notices are usually reserved for sources such as North Korea.
Chetwynd compared the controversy over Kate Middleton’s edited photo to rare cases of image manipulation from North Korean or Iranian news agencies, emphasizing that distorting reality erodes public trust. He stressed that maintaining credibility is crucial, especially amid declining trust in institutions and the media.
The backlash over the altered image worsened existing concerns about Kate’s health and her absence from public life. Arthur Edwards, The Sun’s royal photographer, stated that the Princess of Wales has learned a “tough and very public lesson” about breaking the “golden rule” of photo integrity.
Photographer Edwards emphasized that while cropping a photo is acceptable, altering the image itself is a major mistake. He acknowledged that Kate Middleton was right to quickly admit her error but noted that social media has since been flooded with hateful comments and conspiracy theories targeting her.
Experts, including Edwards, believe that releasing the unedited version of the photo could have stopped speculation. However, the controversy comes amid growing public curiosity about Kate’s health, as she has rarely been seen since her abdominal surgery in January.
Despite the editing mishap, Edwards still praised the photo, calling it a “delightful image” that captures Kate’s radiance and the love shared with her children on Mother’s Day.
Royal expert Hilary Fordwich criticized the Palace, calling the recent controversy “yet another public relations disaster.” She pointed out that a “slimmed-down monarchy” means fewer advisors, many of whom lack the media expertise needed in today’s fast-paced digital world. Fordwich suggested that the royal household should hire top professionals in media management.
Despite the misstep, she praised Kate Middleton for her humility in issuing a direct and sincere apology instead of shifting blame or staying silent. However, this situation raises concerns about whether the Palace is doing enough to protect Kate. According to royal author Tom Bower, they are failing in this regard.
British commentator Tom Bower criticized the public scrutiny of Kate Middleton, stating that people take pleasure in bringing her down. He argued that Kensington Palace staff failed to protect her during her recovery from a serious operation. Bower emphasized that the priority should be Kate’s health, not public appearances, and warned of efforts to undermine the monarchy. On March 22, Kate addressed speculation by revealing she is undergoing cancer treatment.
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