Kate's Mother's Day photo taken in '40-minute window' and 'edited for kids'

12 March 2024 , 10:19

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Princess of Wales edited the Mother's Day photograph (Image: Getty Images)

Princess of Wales edited the Mother's Day photograph - taken in just a 40-minute window - to make her children look good, it is today reported.

Princess Kate, 42, made some adjustments to the image Prince William took of her and her smiling kids. She admitted this on Monday as, it is said, she believes honesty is "the best policy" but the snap was pulled by major picture agencies, including Associated Press and Press Association, after they became suspicious it was manipulated.

Now, it is claimed the mother of three manipulated for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis and sent it to her team on Saturday. A plan was then put in place to release the photo on Sunday at 9am along with a message, The Times reports. Insiders told the publication she was 'thinking of her own children when editing the picture, hoping that they looked good for their own sakes'.

However, aides at Kensington Palace were said to have spent weeks planning a photograph to quash rumours about Kate's health following her abdominal surgery in January. When rumours swirled about Prince William's picture, concerned aides are thought to have spoken to the Waleses, and Kate admitted her actions on Monday.

Kate apologised for any confusion over this photograph (PA)

Prince William made no reference to the row when he attended an engagement last night in London (Getty Images)

Her statement, issued on social media, read: "Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother's Day. C."

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Calls have increased for Kensington Palace to issue the original media, though the Palace has stressed it won't do this. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams noted Princess of Wales was seen on Monday in the back seat of a car with her husband as he left Windsor to travel to London for two public engagements. Kate, 42, was en route to a "private appointment" and she did not accompany William publicly, it is understood.

Mr Fitzwilliams said he felt this "sudden appearance" wasn't the appropriate response to the row over the edited image issued to celebrate Mother's Day. The royal expert said: "When journalists have been saying they want to 'see' Catherine, no one, as I understand it, meant in quite this way. A sudden appearance, which she has just made, is a knee jerk reaction which lacks what royals must have, that is dignity.

"This business has also overshadowed Commonwealth Day. There should never have been two and a half months where she seemed to disappear, we should, occasionally, have felt we were in touch whilst it was important she felt she had kept her privacy."

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