AP, Reuters, AFP and Getty remove the first official image of the Princess of Wales published since her surgery.
The first official photo of Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, released since she underwent abdominal surgery has been removed by several media agencies amid concerns that the image has been manipulated.
Associated Press (AP), Reuters, Getty Images and Agence France-Presse (AFP) issued warnings on Sunday not to use the image of Kate and her three children, which was released by Kensington Palace.
The AP said the photo had been removed because “upon closer inspection, it appears the source had manipulated the image” and the photo showed an “inconsistency in the alignment” of Kate's daughter Princess Charlotte's left hand. .
The AFP said the image could not be used because it had been “altered” without giving further details.
Reuters said it had removed the image “following a post-publication review.”
When contacted for comment, the AP referred Al Jazeera to an AP article about the withdrawal decision.
Reuters, AFP and Getty Images did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
Kensington Palace did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the past two months.
Wishing you all a Happy Mother's Day. c
📸 The Prince of Wales, 2024 pic.twitter.com/6DywGBpLLQ
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 10, 2024
The photo was posted on the Prince and Princess of Wales' official X account on Sunday accompanied by a caption thanking the public for their “kind wishes and continued support over the past two months” and wishing the public a Happy Mother's Day.
The image was allegedly taken by Kate's husband, Prince William, during the past week in the grounds of Windsor Castle, outside London.
The publication of the image, which remained online on Sunday night despite takedown notices, came after Kensington Palace announced in January that Kate, 42, had been hospitalized for surgery and that would be taking a break from official royal duties until after Easter.
The lack of details about the reasons for the queen's surgery and her prolonged absence from the public has sparked an avalanche of speculation and conspiracy theories about her condition.
Kate last appeared in public on Christmas Day while attending a church service at the royal family's Sandringham estate.
