Kate Middleton has apologized for distributing a doctored photograph following months of speculation about her health and whereabouts.
Kensington Palace on Sunday released the first photograph of the Princess of Wales since her hospitalization for abdominal surgery nearly two months ago, but the Associated Press and other news agencies retracted the image “because it appeared to have been manipulated.” Getty and AFP also issued takedown notices saying the photo was removed for editorial reasons. By this time, however, the image had appeared on the cover of numerous British publications and on the Internet.
The distribution of photographs of Catherine and the subsequent retraction by news agencies fueled even more speculation about the 42-year-old royal. Instead of quelling rumors about her well-being, her Mother's Day greeting in the UK resulted in a rare apology from the British royal for the Photoshop mistake, making the strange situation even more strange.
“Like many amateur photographers, I experiment with editing from time to time. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion caused by the family photo we shared yesterday. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother's Day. C”, the former duchess said in a statement in account X of Kensington Palace.
The photo, said to have been taken in Windsor earlier this week by her husband and future king, Prince William, showed Catherine sitting in an outdoor chair surrounded by her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and the Prince Louis. However, it was clear that it had been edited in certain areas, specifically around Charlotte's hands.
The Associated Press removed the photo from distribution hours after publishing it.
“Although there was no suggestion that the photo was fake, AP retracted it because closer inspection revealed that the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet AP's photographic standards. For example, the photo shows an inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte's left hand,” AP said.
A collection of British newspapers on Monday publishes the image which was edited by the Princess of Wales and distributed by Kensington Palace.
(Alastair Grant/Associated Press)
Internet sleuths detected more problems, including misalignment in a window in the background and a tile on the floor, as well as apparent inconsistencies in the family's clothing. Naturally, the image and Catherine's apology became a viral meme, with others questioning a wide range of issues, including why the photo was posted in the first place and why Catherine wasn't wearing her wedding ring.
“Shout out to whoever is doing PR… Because nothing says 'let's put aside the conspiracy theories' like a very poorly photoshopped or AI-generated photo,” wrote one user in the photo's comments section. of the palace.
“Is [this in] London? Because the grass wouldn't be as green in early March nor the trees budding in London,” wrote another.
“Kids don't smile like that in other group photos. Something looks weird and feels wrong. I feel very bad. What the hell?” wrote another.
“I can give Photoshop lessons if necessary. £50 an hour. You only need about 10”, an X user answered to the palace's apology.
“The palace just threw her right under the bus, huh? Zero chance of this being true.” answered other.
“I find it hard to believe that the world's most famous royal family, and the woman who would be queen, tinkered with Photoshop and published a family photo (designed to quell rumors about their whereabouts) without anyone in their ranks inspecting it. . No. Don't buy it.” wrote other.
Catherine's Mother's Day message came a week after the royal was captured in paparazzi photos in her first public appearance since December and since undergoing abdominal surgery on January 16. Despite a statement from Kensington Palace on January 17 announcing that she was “unlikely to return” to public duties until after Easter, Catherine's “disappearance” gave rise to rampant gossip about the nature of her ailment and what he's been doing during the time he's been out of the public eye.
These types of questions ran wild on Reddit threads, in tabloids around the world, and in mainstream media, particularly last month when William cited personal matters as the reason for missing the funeral of his godfather, the king. Constantine of Greece. Catherine's announcement of her break from royal duties was further compounded by King Charles III's health problems, including Buckingham Palace's announcement that he was being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer.
Times deputy editor Matt Brennan and staff writer Meredith Blake contributed to this report.
