Royal Scandal: Alleged Manipulation of Kate's Photo Emerges Amid Rare Public Appearance

Another official photograph of Catherine, Princess of Wales has been digitally altered, causing a new controversy over royal retouching. This comes at a time when Kate was seen in public after several months. Getty Images revealed that the photo of Queen Elizabeth with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, taken by Kate and shared by Kensington Palace, has been "digitally enhanced." A CNN analysis discovered changes in up to 19 areas of the image.

A Mother’s Day photograph of Catherine and her children, supposedly taken by Prince William, was retouched, sparking controversy similar to a previous incident. Kate apologized for the edited photo and mentioned her interest in experimenting with image editing.

The discovery of discrepancies in a second royal picture has brought Kate into the spotlight once again, raising more doubts and potentially damaging the royal family's connections with major news and photography organizations.

The Waleses are facing controversy that they may not be happy about, especially during a time when there is a lot of attention on the princess's health and well-being.

Over the weekend, Prince William and Kate were seen at a farm shop close to where they live, which helped to ease concerns about her health.

William and Kate were spotted shopping on Saturday, a rare sighting of the Princess of Wales since the Palace said she had abdominal surgery in January.

William and Kate were spotted shopping on Saturday, a rare sighting of the Princess of Wales since the Palace said she had abdominal surgery in January.

The princess was seen leaving Windsor Castle in her private car earlier this month. According to Kensington Palace, she was on her way to a private appointment on March 11.

The Queen had not been seen in public after the palace announced she had abdominal surgery in January. The latest controversy revolves around a photo released in April 2023, showing the Queen, who had passed away the previous September, with 10 of her young relatives.

The palace originally claimed that the photo taken at Balmoral Castle in Scotland was done by Kate before the Queen's passing. However, recent corrections have caused confusion as to whether the image was actually a combination of different shots.

Inconsistencies in the Balmoral photo have been identified, such as misalignment on the Queen's skirt, blanket, and the sofa she sits on. Additionally, there are discrepancies in Princess Charlotte's hair, Prince Louis' shoulder, and the lighting on various royals in the picture that do not match the overall lighting.

Getty mentioned in an editor's note that the image had been digitally enhanced at the source. CNN reached out to the agency for further clarification, but Kensington Palace chose not to comment when contacted on Tuesday.

The company stated to CNN that Getty Images is currently reviewing handout images. As part of their editorial policy, they are adding editor's notes to images where the source has indicated possible digital enhancements.

Kate's short apology for the Mother's Day picture did not address why she edits her photos or why Kensington Palace did not inform photo agencies of the alterations. The criticism from Getty and others goes beyond just being a source of embarrassment for the royal family.

The family, like many governments and institutions globally, depends on agencies to share their images with news outlets. However, these companies have strict guidelines on minimal editing. By subtly altering their pictures in different ways, the royals have unintentionally positioned themselves as possible sources of misinformation.

Getty, in particular, has maintained a strong connection with Kensington Palace for a long time. They have frequently been asked to capture images of the royals and have also supported royal events.

Kate has been taking a break from public duties to focus on her recovery from surgery. This extended absence has sparked various conspiracy theories online and raised questions about her health in the British media.

King Charles III, on the other hand, has been scaling back on his duties since revealing his cancer diagnosis in February.

CNN's Max Foster, Bernadette Tuazon, Sarah Tilotta, and Lauren Kent provided additional reporting for this article.

Editor's P/S:

The recent controversy surrounding the digitally altered photographs of Princess Catherine has highlighted the complex relationship between the royal family and the media. While the use of photo editing is common in the digital age, the intentional alteration of official images raises questions about the authenticity and reliability of royal imagery. The discrepancy between the original and the edited versions of the Balmoral photo undermines the credibility of Kensington Palace and potentially damages the trust between the royals and news organizations.

Moreover, this incident has also brought attention to the health of Princess Catherine and King Charles III. The public's concern about Kate's well-being has been heightened by her absence from public duties and the conflicting information about her surgery. Similarly, King Charles's recent cancer diagnosis has raised questions about his health and ability to perform his royal functions. These health concerns add another layer to the already complex situation surrounding the royal family's image and public perception.