Princess Kate has offered an apology following the controversy over having posted an edited Mother’s Day photo with her children.
The photograph shared on UK Mother’s Day – the first official one since her operation in January – showed the 42-year-old smiling, casually dressed and sitting on a wicker chair surrounded by her three children.
Captured last week in Windsor, according to the royal couple’s services, it was accompanied by a brief message signed C, expressing gratitude for "your wishes and continued support over the past two months. Wishing everyone a happy Mother’s Day."
However, a detailed examination revealed discrepancies within the photo. Princess Charlotte’s left-hand does not align with her cardigan sleeve; there is also an evident break in Princess Kate’s zip when you zoom into the image; and some of her children's fingers are crossed in an unnatural position, as is common with images created by artificial intelligence (AI) photo generators.
"Like many amateur photographers, I sometimes experiment with editing. I would like to apologise for the confusion caused by the family photo we shared yesterday," stated the British princess, in a message signed ‘C’ for Catherine, posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Having circulated the photo provided by the palace, press agencies Associated Press (AP), Reuters, Getty and AFP have decided to un-publish it. The British press agency PA took the same decision on Monday morning over a lack of "clarification" from the royal couple’s services.
The lack of wedding band on Kate’s finger also surprised many observers – Kate married Prince William, heir to the throne, in 2011. The photo graced the front page of several British newspapers, which emphasise the controversy to different extents, that escalated late Sunday.
Growing conspiracy theories
"This debacle is embarrassing for Kensington Palace, because people are now going to wonder if they can trust and believe them regarding the princess’s health," commented royal pundit Peter Hunt.
The controversy is likely to overshadow the annual Commonwealth Day ceremony at Westminster Abbey on Monday, where all active and healthy members of the royal family, including Queen Camilla and Prince William, are expected to attend.
A pre-recorded video message by King Charles, currently undergoing cancer treatment and having suspended his public duties, pledged to serve the Commonwealth of 56 countries, many of which are part of the former British Empire, "to the best of his abilities". The 75-year-old monarch’s transparency starkly contrasts with the opaque communication about his daughter-in-law’s health since her abdominal surgery in January, fuelling rumours.
The publication of Kate’s photo caps off a turbulent week, marked by the publication of a distant photograph by American media and confusion about the princess’s presence at an official event in June.
Her last public appearance dates back to the royal family’s Christmas Mass at Sandringham in late December, an uncommon amount of time out of the public eye for the immensely popular princess, who frequently makes the front pages of British media.
Kensington Palace announced on 17 January that the princess had undergone a "scheduled" operation on her abdomen at a London clinic. Honouring Kate’s "wish that her personal medical information remain private", it mentioned she would not participate in any official public engagements before Easter.
Prince William lightened his schedule to stay with his wife and children. Twelve days later, the palace stated that the princess had returned to her Windsor home.
Following Prince William’s cancellation of a public engagement for an unspecified "personal reason", the palace briefly announced in late February that she "continues to be well", amidst mounting questions in the press on her health,
"It’s simple, don’t use their photos. It’s about public relations, not news," the anti-monarchy movement Republic commented on X, on Monday.
