Royal Analyst Analyzes Kate Middleton Photo Controversy, Urges Royal Family to Address the Situation

Royal expert and public relations professional David Johnson is sharing his thoughts on the recent Mother’s Day portrait controversy involving Princess Kate Middleton.

Johnson, the founder and CEO of Strategic Visions PR Group, described the situation as "really unique and unusual." He spoke exclusively to We on Tuesday, March 12, just two days after screenshots shared by Associated Press journalists showed a "kill notification" requesting the removal of a photo of Kate, 42, and her children. The notification raised concerns that the portrait may have been altered by the source.

Kate, who had surgery in January and stayed out of the public, spoke out on Monday, March 11. She wanted to clear up rumors about a photo of her with her kids - Prince George, 10, Prince Louis, 5, and Princess Charlotte, 8 - being edited.

Royal Expert Breaks Down Complete Chaos of Kate Middleton Photo Editing Fail

"I sometimes play around with editing photos, like many hobbyist photographers. I'm sorry if the family picture we posted yesterday caused any confusion," said a recent post from the official Prince and Princess of Wales account. "I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day celebration."

Johnson believed that it was a mistake for Kate to address the controversy herself. He thought that it only led to more questions about her health and whereabouts.

He suggested that the best approach would have been to acknowledge the mistake and reassure the public. Instead of blaming Kate, he advised taking responsibility and explaining that it was a junior staff member who leaked the photo.

By deflecting the blame onto Kate, the situation only escalated. Johnson described it as chaotic and dysfunctional, with an impending sense of uncertainty. It seemed like there was a looming issue waiting to surface, causing confusion for everyone involved.

Kate Middleton Us Weekly 2413 UK Mothers Day

Prince of Wales/Kensington Palace / MEGA

The PR expert expressed surprise that the photo was released without anyone noticing its flaws. He also found it strange that the original Mother’s Day portrait has not been shown yet.

He mentioned that it seems like someone with little experience in PR rushed to post the photo without much thought. Johnson also doubted that Kate posted the photo without approval from her team.

"They need someone to step up and take responsibility for what happened, but it shouldn't be Catherine. It's important to clarify the situation with her. The longer this situation drags on, the more rumors will spread about her," he expressed. "The handling of this situation is unprofessional and it's turning into a public relations nightmare."

Kensington Palace revealed on January 17 that Kate had a scheduled abdominal procedure at the London Clinic and would not be resuming public duties until after Easter.

The princess has been out of commission for some time and there have been theories circulating online about the reasons behind it. However, a representative for Kate has denied these rumors in a statement to We.

In a statement last month, the spokesperson mentioned that Kensington Palace had already provided timelines for the princess' recovery in January. They also stated that only significant updates would be shared moving forward, and this guidance remains the same.

The Palace has not provided additional information regarding Catherine's procedure, which Johnson believes reflects a traditional focus on privacy.

According to Johnson, the Palace is not keeping up with modern times. He mentioned that details of surgeries undergone by U.S. presidents are publicly disclosed, emphasizing the need for the Palace to release statements to reassure the public. By not doing so, they risk appearing outdated and creating more issues for themselves.

With reporting by Christina Garibaldi

Editor's P/S:

The Mother's Day portrait controversy surrounding Princess Kate Middleton has sparked concerns about the handling of public relations by the Royal Family. PR expert David Johnson believes the Palace's response to the "kill notification" incident was inadequate, leading to further speculation and confusion. Johnson suggests that the Palace should have taken responsibility for the mistake and reassured the public, rather than blaming Kate herself. He also highlights the lack of transparency regarding Kate's health, emphasizing the need for the Palace to adapt to modern communication standards.

The article also raises questions about the experience and competence of the Palace's PR team. Johnson's observations suggest that the photo was released without proper vetting, highlighting a potential lack of attention to detail. The fact that the original Mother's Day portrait has not been shown further adds to the uncertainty surrounding the situation. It is essential for the Palace to address these concerns effectively to maintain its reputation and preserve public trust.