KATE'S SADNESS
Princess Kate ‘very sad’ over tweaked photo storm and just wanted Mother’s Day family portrait to be perfect
The Princess is believed to have altered it three times on a computer before it was released on Sunday
THE Princess of Wales was last night said to be “very sad” that a happy family photo to celebrate Mother’s Day had triggered a global furore.
Kate apologised after admitting adjusting the image, which sources said she had intended as an informal picture with her three children.
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The Princess was subjected to heavy social media criticism.
She is believed to have altered it three times on a computer before it was released on Sunday.
Picture agencies withdrew, or “killed”, the image when discrepancies were discovered — with the BBC leading bulletins with the row all yesterday.
Yesterday Kate turned her head from photographers as she left Windsor Castle by car with a pensive William at her side.
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Last night Kensington Palace refused to release the original photo, explain which parts had been altered, or say why. It did say a single photo was doctored rather than several images combined.
As if to allay wild conspiracy theories about Kate’s health, the Palace added: “The Wales family spent Mother’s Day together and had a wonderful day.”
Photo ‘editing’ backlash comes as:
- Princess Kate apologises for “confusion” caused by inconsistencies in family image
- Piers Morgan calls for the Palace to share the unedited photo to quell internet sleuths
- Kate’s uncle Gary Goldsmith gives his verdict on Mother’s Day picture as he speaks out after CBB eviction
- Photo agencies release ‘kill notice’ on Princess Kate’s Mother’s Day picture
- Twitter’s warning over Princess Kate photo inconsistencies
- King Charles releases video message saying he’ll ‘continue to serve you, to the best of my ability’ amid cancer battle
- Princess Kate is pictured with Prince William leaving Windsor Castle this afternoon in a black Land Rover
- Prince William brushes off Kate’s Photoshop drama as he arrives for Commonwealth Day celebration without his wife
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Kate, 42, who is recovering from abdominal surgery, apologised in a statement yesterday morning.
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. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day.”
Omid Scobie, a cheerleader for Harry and Meghan, led criticism, saying: “It’s becoming increasingly difficult for the public to believe a word (and now photo) they share”.
Prince William issues urgent statement on environment after brushing off Princess Kate’s Photoshop drama
But Kate received sympathy for fronting up at the first opportunity.
She is understood to have wanted to issue a family photo as she does on Mother’s Day and knew that it would be heavily scrutinised.
The image, with George, ten, Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five, was withdrawn by picture agencies late on Sunday over fears it had been doctored.
The Sun’s picture desk has found 12 clues that show likely editing.
Inspection of the original image revealed it as taken on a Canon camera with a 50mm lens.
It had been edited three times on Adobe Photoshop — once on Friday evening and twice on Saturday.
Experts claim several areas have been altered ranging from Charlotte’s cuff to even Kate replacing her face.
Like any mother she strived to make the photo the best it could be, and never intended for it to become a major controversy.
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Royal author Ingrid Seward said: “It is ridiculous and deeply unfair when she is trying to recover from major surgery.
"She has been posing for pictures all her royal life so just give her a break.”
Kate was last seen on public duty on Christmas Day.
She went to the London Clinic 8 weeks ago for abdominal surgery.
The Palace insists she is doing well and not expected back to public duty until April.
Yesterday William attended the Commonwealth Day ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
Kate had a private appointment in London.
There have been claims, largely dismissed at the time, that the Wales’s family Christmas card had been digitally altered.
It is ridiculous and deeply unfair when she is trying to recover from major surgery. She has been posing for pictures all her royal life so just give her a break
Ingrid Seward
Kate posted the Mother’s Day photo on Sunday morning in a move many believed was an attempt to dispel the conspiracy theories over her health.
The photo, taken by William, was seen by 72million people on the couple’s X/Twitter account and got two million likes on Instagram.
But online sleuths soon recognised it had been doctored.
Associated Press said: “It appears that the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet AP’s photo standards.”
The agency stressed there was an inconsistency with the position of Charlotte’s left hand.
Agence France-Presse, Reuters, Getty and the Press Association followed suit in “killing” the image.
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Royal author Phil Dampier said: “It is ironic that it is the first time William has taken a picture that they have released publicly and this has happened.
“It seems he has sent this to Kensington Palace’s press office and they have not picked up on it — and just sent it out without asking any questions.”
CAMERA FAN ALL HER LIFE
By Thomas Godfrey
THE Princess of Wales was reportedly inspired to pick up a camera by her Army captain grandad Peter Middleton.
One of her favourite images is of Charlotte smelling a bluebell in 2020.
Kate took photos for the Queen’s 75th birthday with Camilla saying: “She’s an extremely good photographer.”
Sun royal snapper Arthur Edwards added: “Her photo of William and the children on the swing is an absolute winner.”
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WHY WERE 'KILL NOTICES' ISSUED?
News agencies ordered a "kill notice" on the picture late Sunday night.
The removal orders were sent after "manipulation" on the image was discovered.
AP's order said the reason for killing the story was: "At closer inspection it appears that the source has manipulated the image."
The order then directs those who have used the photo to remove it from all platforms, including social.
Agence France-Press ordered the "mandatory kill" due to an "editorial issue" and directed that the image may no longer be used.
Reuters said the photo “has been withdrawn following a post publication review.”
Getty Images said: “For editorial reasons, please remove the following image(s) from your system and do not use in any manner.”
Getty said its picture desk "identified a problematic image" provided by the palace and removed it from its site "in accordance with our editorial policy."
PA said: "Like other news agencies, PA Media issued the handout image provided by Kensington Palace of the Princess of Wales and her children in good faith yesterday.
"We became aware of concerns about the image and we carried a report about it last night, and made clear that we were seeking urgent clarification about the image from Kensington Palace.
"In the absence of that clarification, we are killing the image from our picture service."
Each of the news agencies have their own editorial guidelines which govern how they treat images.
AP says that pictures "must always tell the truth" and that it does not alter or manipulate the content of a photograph in any way.
Its guidelines say: "The content of a photograph must not be altered in PhotoShop or by any other means. No element should be digitally added to or subtracted from any photograph."
However, AP says minor adjustments are allowed, they include cropping, colour adjustments, and light adjustments.
ROYAL PHOTOSHOP FAILS OVER THE YEARS
KATE'S Mother's Day picture isn't the first time the royals have found themselves caught up in editing fails.
Christmas 2023
Prince Louis appeared to be missing a finger in the Wales' latest Christmas card.
Fans also spotted another odd detail in the photo, saying that Prince William's leg appeared to be missing.
The late Queen's hand retouch
A portrait of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip appeared to have been Photo-shopped.
There is something odd about the monarch's clasped hands in the picture, which was put out a couple of years before she died in September 2022.
Eagle-eyed royal fans spotted an odd dark outline around the edge of the Queen's right hand, which they claimed suggested it had been cut in from an alternative image.
'Zombie' Kate
An image of the Princess of Wales was used on the front of Australian publication Woman’s Day.
It looks like someone touched up the photo of Kate’s face ahead of the birth of Prince Louis in 2018.
Cosmpolitan magazine subsequently penned a scathing review, referring to the airbrushing as "creepy zombie photoshopping".
Wills' bald spot
Vanity Fair was accused of thickening Prince William's hair during a shoot after the birth of George.
In response the publication insisted it had simply added more colours to make the photo look more “vibrant”.
George edits
US weekly changed George's appearance while he was still a baby.
The second-in-line to the throne gained greener eyes, pinker lips, more colourful hair and chubbier cheeks when he appeared on the cover of the publication in 2014.
Smaller waist
The Press Complaints Commission was called in when Grazia magazine edited a snap of Princess Kate on her wedding day in 2011 to make her waist look slimmer.
The publication admitted altering the photo, but claimed it was an inadvertent error when they cut her husband William out of the image.