Princess of Wales addresses concerns after photo agencies withdraw image due to manipulation

Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, has issued a personal apology for any confusion caused by an edited photo of her and her children released to mark Mother’s Day. The image, which showed Kate embraced by Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, came under scrutiny after several international photo agencies, including The Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and Getty Images, issued a “kill notice” due to concerns of digital alteration.

In a rare personal post on X (formerly Twitter), signed with a ‘C’ denoting it was from Kate, the princess admitted to occasionally experimenting with editing as an amateur photographer. She expressed her apologies for any confusion the family photograph may have caused and wished everyone a happy Mother’s Day.

A palace source clarified that the photograph was an amateur, family picture taken by Prince William and that the Princess made minor adjustments to it. They emphasized that the Wales family spent Mother’s Day together and had a wonderful day.

The photograph was the first official image of Kate Middleton since she underwent abdominal surgery earlier this year. It was accompanied by a message thanking the public for their kind wishes and support over the last two months.

After the photo’s release, some royal fans noticed discrepancies, such as the misalignment of Princess Charlotte’s sleeve and the blurriness of Prince George’s hand. Professional photographers also pointed out signs of Photoshop use, raising questions about the editing process.

The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the use of photo editing in official royal releases and the transparency surrounding such practices.