Kensington Palace under 'increasing pressure' to explain Kate photo - source

11 March 2024 , 09:14

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The Princess of Wales pictured with her children Prince Louis, Prince George and Princess Charlotte (Image: PA)

Royal sources said Kensington Palace would be under "increasing pressure" today to explain how a photograph of the Princess of Wales and her three children was produced after it was accused of "manipulation".

The photograph, showing Kate embraced with Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, nine and Prince Louis, five, stands accused of being edited before it was districted to media outlets around the world and published on social media. One source said: "The palace will be under increasing pressure today to explain the situation.

"On one hand it (Kensington Palace) has made a public statement about the 'madness of social media' and on the other, they have added to the issue by directly issuing what appears to be an edited image." The Associated Press (AP) Reuters, Agence France-Presse (AFP) and Getty Images all separately issued a "kill notice" to media organisations around the globe, confirming they had each deleted the image from their individual libraries.

A notice from the Associated Press read: "At closer inspection it appears that the source has manipulated the image." Earlier in the day, eagle-eyed royal fans on social media spotted that the sleeve of Princess Charlotte's arm did not line-up. Questions were also raised over Prince George's right hand being out of focus.

Royal fans have questioned parts of the image (PA)

Eagle-eyed royal fans on social media spotted that the sleeve of Princess Charlotte's arm did not line-up (PA)

Portrait photographer Martin Bamford posted the image on X, writing: "Professional photographer here. Look closely at Princess Charlotte’s wrist. 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 weird."

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The Royal Family has ignored Princess Kate's photo controversy so far. Kensington Palace today once again refused to reply to requests for comment. Kate has not been officially seen in public since she joined other members of the Royal Family for a Christmas Day walk.

However US celebrity news site TMZ published a photo of her on March 4 which is understood to have been taken by unauthorised paparazzi. In the photo, which TMZ said was taken near Windsor Castle, Kate wore dark sunglasses and sat in the passenger seat of a black Audi being driven by her mother, Carole Middleton.

Russell Myers