The Princess of Wales has issued an apology after Kensington Palace released a digitally altered photo to mark Mother’s Day.
In a statement, Catherine admitted to “experimenting with editing” and expressed regret for any confusion caused by the family photograph.
Stay up-to-date on the latest news with The National Briefing – keeping you in the loop with news as it hits:
“I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day. C”
The image, initially credited to her husband, Prince William, was distributed by major news wire services, including the Associated Press (AP), Agence France Presse (AFP), Getty Images, the Press Association (PA), and Reuters.
However, these organisations later instructed clients to remove the photo due to digital manipulation.
AP revealed the reason for the image recall, claiming that: “It appears that the source (Kensington Palace) has manipulated the image in a way that did not meet AP’s photo standards.”
Media experts pointed out several inconsistencies in the image, including the position of Charlotte’s hands, the alignment of her skirt, the pattern on Louis’s jumper, and the alignment of the wall near his knee.
The controversy comes at a challenging time for the royal family, as the Princess of Wales has been convalescing for several weeks, following her surgery in January.
Her absence has fueled rumours and increased scrutiny about the family’s health and well-being.
Adding to the complexity, King Charles III recently revealed his battle with cancer, leading him to step away from public-facing duties.
Queen Camilla also took a break from royal duties, though she has since resumed them.
Prince William, the heir to the throne, temporarily withdrew from official engagements during Catherine’s surgeries.
Subscribe to The Briefing, Australia’s fastest-growing news podcast on LiSTNR today. The Briefing serves up the latest news and deep dives on topics affecting you, all in under 20 minutes.