Catherine, the Princess of Wales, has issued an apology after a photo of her issued by Kensington Palace on March 10 was withdrawn by major news agencies over concerns that it had been “manipulated”.
In a statement on X on March 11, she wrote: “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.”
The picture in question, depicting Ms Kate Middleton with her three children, was released by Kensington Palace for Mother’s Day, which in Britain fell on March 10.
The photograph shows the Princess of Wales seated, encircled by her three children: Prince Louis, five; Prince George, 10, who is seen embracing her; and Princess Charlotte, eight. However, barely 24 hours later, the agencies issued alerts about the photo.
The Associated Press was the first to retract the image because “it did not meet” the agency’s expected quality. It cited discrepancies near Princess Charlotte’s left hand, which failed to meet its editorial standards, reported the BBC on March 11.
AFP, in a note to clients, said: “It has come to light that the handout issued by Kensington Palace today of Kate and the kids had been altered, therefore it was withdrawn from AFP systems.”
Three other agencies also withdrew the image – Reuters, Getty Images and PA.
The family photo was taken by her husband William, the Prince of Wales, who is heir to the throne.
The BBC reported that Kensington Palace, where the Prince and Princess of Wales’ office and London residence are based, said it would not be reissuing the original unedited photograph of the princess and her children.
This marked the first official image of Princess Catherine, who is more popularly known as Kate, since Christmas.
On Jan 16, the 42-year-old, who is well known for her love of photography, was admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery. She is not expected to resume royal duties till after Easter, which falls on March 31.
The photo was shared on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ social media accounts with a message of gratitude from the princess for the outpouring of support during her recovery, and get-well wishes for Mother’s Day.
The image was prominently featured on the front pages of several British newspapers and was used in television news segments, including on the BBC.
However, the image’s integrity came into question late during the night on March 10, when the Associated Press issued a “kill notification” – a term used in the industry to denote a retraction.
It stated: “At closer inspection, it appears that the source has manipulated the image. No replacement photo will be sent.”
Following that decision, Reuters and AFP also withdrew the image after their own post-publication reviews. They were followed by Getty Images and PA.
Most news organisations typically adhere to strict guidelines regarding the use of altered photographs, generally allowing them only when clearly indicated as modified. Only minor adjustments are permitted, such as the removal of sensor dust.
After announcing the princess’ surgery, the Palace has declined to reveal more about her condition, citing privacy concerns. However, this has sparked widespread online speculation, and some wild conspiracy theories.
On March 4, American celebrity website TMZ published photos of the princess in a car with her mother, Ms Carole Middleton. The pair were reportedly near Windsor Castle.
The release of the latest photograph was seen as an effort to address some of the more outlandish theories about the princess’ absence from public duties and to reassure those concerned that she is recovering well.
Sources close to the couple have emphasised the importance of allowing her the space to recuperate away from public scrutiny.
The image remains on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ official X account.
