Royal Scandal: French News Director Questions Kensington Palace's Credibility Following Kate Middleton Photo Controversy

French News Director Says Kensington Palace Can't Be Trusted After Kate Middleton Photo Debacle

Kate Middleton with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Prince of Wales/Kensington Palace / MEGA

Princess Kate Middleton's Mother's Day photo, edited by Kensington Palace, has damaged its credibility with a major international news outlet.

During a recent interview on BBC Radio 4's Media Show, Phil Chetwynd, the global news director of Agence France-Presse (AFP), stated that the palace is no longer seen as a "trusted source" after the photo controversy.

Chetwynd mentioned that the agency has reevaluated its partnership with Prince William and Kate, aged 42. He mentioned to Deadline that the photograph brought up significant concerns and should not have been authorized for use as it went against the outlet's guidelines.

He further explained that when trust is broken by a source, the expectations are raised. Chetwynd stated that they have instructed all their teams to be extra vigilant with the content they receive, even from sources they typically trust.

Chetwynd mentioned that when asked by AFP, Reuters, and the Associated Press to provide the original image, Kensington Palace did not respond. It is not common for a photo to be ordered to be taken down, according to Chetwynd.

He explained that "killing" a photo due to manipulation is rare, happening maybe once a year, and hopefully even less.

Chetwynd stressed the importance of having trust in a powerful source such as the royal family. He mentioned that distorting reality for the public can lead to a lack of trust. The main issue here is the declining trust of the general public in institutions and the media. Therefore, it is crucial that a photo accurately reflects the reality it portrays.

A photo featuring Kate with her three children - Prince George (10), Princess Charlotte (8), and Prince Louis (5) - was posted on social media on Sunday, March 10, in celebration of Mother's Day. This marked the first official image of Kate since her abdominal surgery in January, which has prevented her from participating in royal engagements. (The palace had previously announced that Kate will be on leave until Easter.)

Suspicions arose when social media users noticed that Kate was not wearing her wedding ring in the photo. Other inconsistencies were also spotted in the children's clothing.

The next day, Kate addressed the controversy in a statement shared through X. She admitted, "Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to apologize for any confusion caused by the family photograph we shared yesterday. I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day celebration."

Few details have been shared about Kate's recent surgery, sparking various speculations about her health. The princess was last seen in December 2023 and has only been photographed twice since then, both times while sitting in a car.

According to an exclusive source in the latest issue of We magazine, the reason for the operation is personal, and Kate prefers to keep the information private. Some family members are also unaware of all the details. The source mentioned that Kate may share more when she feels ready, but there are no guarantees.

Editor's P/S:

The recent photo controversy involving Princess Kate Middleton has raised serious concerns about the credibility of Kensington Palace as a trusted source. The global news director of Agence France-Presse (AFP), Phil Chetwynd, has stated that the palace's authorization of an edited photo has damaged its reputation. AFP has reevaluated its partnership with Prince William and Kate, emphasizing the importance of accurate and transparent information. This incident highlights the growing skepticism towards institutions and the media, making it crucial for sources to maintain integrity and avoid distorting reality.

The photo in question, which featured Kate with her three children on Mother's Day, raised suspicions due to inconsistencies in the subjects' clothing and the absence of Kate's wedding ring. Kate's subsequent admission that she had edited the photo has further eroded trust. The lack of transparency surrounding Kate's recent surgery has also contributed to the perception that the palace is withholding information from the public. As a result, the media and the general public are becoming increasingly vigilant in scrutinizing the authenticity of information provided by sources they once trusted.