Princess Catherine’s latest photo, her first since undergoing abdominal surgery, has stirred significant attention and raised questions about possible photo manipulation. The image, shared by Kensington Palace, features the Princess of Wales with her three children and was intended to be a heartwarming Mother's Day snapshot to reassure the public and address online speculation about her condition.
Despite the photo’s genuine intent, it has become the center of controversy. Major photo agencies, including Reuters, AP, Getty, and AFP, have issued a “kill notice” for the image due to claims of editing. While Kensington Palace has confirmed the authenticity of the photo, this hasn’t prevented a flood of conspiracy theories and scrutiny.
Several top photo agencies have expressed concerns that the image, reportedly taken last week at Windsor, may have been digitally altered. Sources suggest that changes to the photo—from Prince Louis’s hand to inconsistencies in clothing patterns—have been detected. Observant members of the public have pointed out various editing errors, which have only fueled the swirling conspiracy theories.
Royal watchers have noticed several issues with the photo. Some have pointed out that Princess Charlotte’s wrists and the sleeves of her jumper appear to be digitally altered, while others have highlighted discrepancies with the heel of Charlotte’s boot and the paving behind the family. Notably, there seems to be a gap where the pink cardigan on the third in line to the throne should be, and Princess Charlotte’s hand appears to be cut off.
Portrait photographer Martin Bamford commented on Twitter, "This is what happens when you composite layers in Photoshop. I’m not speculating on why the photo was edited like this, but it's unusual." He further remarked that if Charlotte’s image was indeed edited, she would not be the only one affected among her siblings, citing claims of multiple rows of teeth in Prince George’s picture and misaligned zippers on Catherine’s jacket.
Other social media users have noted additional issues, including mismatched window panes in the background, abrupt stops in Charlotte’s hair, and what seems to be a Photoshopped chin for Catherine. This controversy follows a previous mishap with a Royal Christmas card, where Prince Louis was depicted missing a middle finger due to a Photoshop error.
According to the Associated Press, the photo has been withdrawn from circulation following an editorial review, with a notice instructing all media to remove it from online platforms and servers. The image was initially published shortly after Catherine was seen out for the first time post-surgery, driving with her mother, Carole Middleton.
