Phony photo, real health fears

Catherine, Princess of Photoshop fails?

Kate Middleton attempted to claim responsibility for doctoring the photo for UK Mother’s Day that set the Internet ablaze and apologized Monday.

“Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,” she said in a statement on X. “I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused.”

But her post did nothing to quell conspiracy theories and online rumors about her health and well-being following an abdominal surgery that has kept her out of the public eye since Christmas.

Neither did a brief sighting on Monday — in which she was seen in darkly lit photos in the back of a car sitting next to her husband Prince William as he sped off to attend a Commonwealth Day ceremony.

A source close to the situation expressed deep concern, suggesting that Middleton’s health struggles might be more serious than initially thought. “Something is terribly wrong,” the insider told The Post. “The idea that Kate could not sit for one photo session tells me this is a much more dire situation than anyone knows.”

William — first in line to the throne — appeared alongside his stepmother, Queen Camilla, and other royals at the event commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Commonwealth of Nations — a collection of states that used to be part of the British Empire. Kate was nowhere in sight.

Even King Charles, who is undergoing cancer treatment, made an appearance via video message. He made no mention of his daughter in law.

Outlandish theories have surrounded the future queen in her absence, even as palace insiders told Page Six last month that Middleton is “doing fine” and royal officials have said she will likely not return to active duty until after Easter.