PRINCESS APOLOGISES AFTER EDITED PHOTO FUELS SPECULATION
▶ Publication and later withdrawal of altered Mother ’s Day image ‘embarrassing’ for royal family, says analyst
Kate, Princess of Wales has apologised for confusion created by a digitally altered family photograph that was released to mark Mother’s Day in Britain.
The image of the princess and her children, taken by the Prince of Wales, was the first to be issued since her abdominal surgery in January.
It was published by Kensington Palace on Sunday, before being withdrawn hours later by news agencies through a socalled kill notice amid suspicions it had been manipulated.
The Press Association recalled the photo yesterday.
Royal commentators said the incident could fuel speculation over Kate’s health at a time when the royal family are trying to dispel such rumours.
Concerns were raised over a missing part of Princess Charlotte’s sleeve and the misaligned edge of her skirt, as well as the positioning of Kate’s zip.
There were also peculiarities over the alignment of the Princess of Wales’s face, Princess Charlotte’s hair, a step in the background and the pattern on Prince George’s jumper.
The Princess of Wales released a statement on social media yesterday to apologise.
“Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,” she wrote.
“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.”
The picture was released to reassure the public amid escalating conspiracy theories over the state of the princess’s health in recent weeks.
Royal sources said the princess had made “minor adjustments” and the couple wanted to offer an informal picture of their family for Mother’s Day.
Kensington Palace, which has said it will not be reissuing the original unedited photograph, has been under growing pressure over the debacle.
The princess underwent planned abdominal surgery for an unspecified condition in January, and Kensington Palace said she would not return to public duties until after Easter.
Her office has said she was recovering well, but her absence has led to intense speculation about her health on social media in recent weeks.
Prince William recently pulled out of a memorial service for the late former King Constantine of Greece, where he was set to give a reading, due to what Kensington Palace called a “personal matter”.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said the release of the image was “embarrassing” for the royal family.
“The reason that it’s been done is to quash rumours, which of course will be restarted, and also on a worldwide basis,” he told The National.
“When the princess does resume royal duties, this will probably be largely forgotten. But for the moment there is so much trolling online and with a lot of undesirable activity, including paparazzi.
“It will fuel speculation, which is the last thing it was meant to do.”