Kate
Middleton's Mother's Day photo continues to generate controversy as it was
promptly taken down for editing shortly after being posted.
"Professional
photographer here. Take a close look at Princess Charlotte’s wrist. This is a
typical outcome of layer compositing in Photoshop. I won't delve into the
reasons behind the photo's editing, but it's certainly unusual," remarked
portrait photographer Martin Bamford on X.
The
Princess accepted responsibility for editing the photo.
Using
their official X account, she expressed, "Similar to many amateur
photographers, I occasionally explore editing techniques. I want to apologize
for any confusion arising from the family photograph we posted yesterday. I
hope everyone celebrating had a joyful Mother’s Day. - C."
Kensington
Palace later confirmed that they "would not be releasing the original,
unedited photograph of Kate and her children."
The
Associated Press, Reuters, Getty Images, and Agence France-Presse all opted to
issue "kill notices," advisory alerts advising against the use or
removal of a particular photo.
“It
appears that the source has manipulated the image,” the Associated Press
notification read.
DERBY,
ENGLAND – OCTOBER 06: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits students at the
University of Derby to hear how the pandemic has impacted university life and
what national measures have been put in place to support student mental health
on October 6, 2020 in Derby, England. (Photo by Arthur Edwards – WPA Pool/Getty
Images)
They
also issued a statement, explaining, "The Associated Press initially distributed
the photo provided by Kensington Palace. However, upon closer examination, it
became evident that the image had been altered in a manner inconsistent with
AP's photo guidelines. Specifically, there was a discrepancy in the alignment
of Princess Charlotte’s left hand."
Royal
expert Katie Nicholl suggested that the Palace would face considerable pressure
in the aftermath of the photo incident.
"What's
particularly significant in all of this is that four major international
picture agencies have decided to retract this image. That's quite
uncommon," remarked Nicholl.
"In
my fifteen years of covering this beat, I can't recall a single instance where
a royal image has been recalled. That's highly unusual. It could potentially
compel Kensington Palace to take action," remarked Nicholl.
During
an appearance on BBC Radio 4's Media Show, Phil Chetwynd, AFP's global news
director, remarked that Kensington Palace is now viewed as an unreliable
source.
"No,
absolutely not. Just as with any situation where trust is breached, our
standards become even more stringent... We've instructed all our teams to
exercise utmost vigilance regarding the content we receive — even from what we
traditionally consider trusted sources," he stated, as reported by
Deadline.
Max
Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
He
added that kill notices are usually reserved for sources such as North Korea.
"To
retract an image due to manipulation is uncommon. We typically encounter such
situations perhaps once a year, hopefully less. Previous retractions we've made
were from sources like the North Korean news agency or the Iranian news
agency," Chetwynd added.
"One
crucial aspect is the integrity of portraying reality to the public accurately.
It boils down to a matter of trust. The significant issue at hand revolves
around trust, or rather the erosion of it, within both institutions and the
media. Hence, it's of utmost importance that a photograph accurately reflects
the reality it portrays," he concluded.
The
controversy surrounding the edited image only exacerbated existing concerns, as
both Kate and the Palace have faced accusations of withholding information
regarding her health and whereabouts.
Arthur
Edwards, The Sun’s royal photographer, commented that the Princess of Wales has
learned a "difficult and highly public lesson," having broken the
"golden rule."
Max
Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
"It's
an unwritten rule that while cropping a picture is acceptable, altering the
image itself is a line you don't cross. Kate shouldn't have done it, and she
was correct to promptly acknowledge her mistake," remarked Edwards, noting
the flood of "disgusting bile and hateful comments about her" on
social media.
"The
conspiracy theories are spreading rapidly — as if these individuals needed any
further encouragement. These unwarranted attacks on Kate are bound to upset
her."
According
to experts, including Edwards, releasing the unedited version of the photo
could have quelled the speculations coming from the Palace.
"However,
this situation arises amidst ongoing speculation about Kate's well-being. Apart
from a brief picture yesterday and last week, none of us has seen her since
December. Many people, myself included, have been eagerly awaiting an update on
the Princess of Wales's health since her abdominal surgery in January."
Edwards
further remarked, "While the attempt at photo manipulation may have been
flawed, I still find it to be a delightful image. Kate appears radiant and
filled with pride on Mother’s Day, surrounded by her adoring children. It
exudes a sense of heartwarming love and emotion."
Zac
Goodwin – Pool/Getty Images
In
a conversation with Fox, royal expert Hilary Fordwich asserted that the palace
is accountable for what she dubs "yet another public relations
disaster."
"The
reality is that a 'slimmed-down monarchy' translates to fewer individuals
guiding the royals, and those in charge may not possess the media savvy
necessary," Fordwich remarked. "In today's fast-paced world with
tech-savvy media outlets, the palaces must recruit the most skilled and
knowledgeable professionals in these areas."
"While
this isn't 'business as usual' or what we typically anticipate from a royal
household, it demonstrates great humility to acknowledge one's mistakes,"
Fordwich continued. "Others might have chosen to stay silent or attempted
to shift the blame onto someone else. Kate issued a straightforward,
no-nonsense apology. There's a lesson to be learned from her approach that many
could benefit from."
The
question that arises is whether the Palace is taking sufficient measures to
safeguard Kate Middleton, and according to royal expert and author Tom Bower,
they are falling short.
Shirlaine
Forrest/Getty Images
"People
around the world seem to derive pleasure from trying to tear her down. And when
she acknowledged her mistake, they should have brought in a professional
photographer to ensure there were no hiccups like the ones that have now
occurred," Bower told The Sun.
He
continued, "She's undergone an incredibly serious operation. She requires
ample time to recuperate. I'm concerned that she has been subjected to
tremendous pressure to fulfill her duties, and rather than shielding her, her
staff at Kensington Palace have failed to provide the support and protection
she requires."
Furthermore,
Bower believes that the Palace's primary focus should be on aiding Kate in her
complete recovery rather than releasing more images.
"There
are republicans and troublemakers who are eager to dismantle the monarchy and
undermine Britain as it stands today. They do not share our values and perceive
Kate as a vulnerable and convenient target—an opportunity to undermine British
values and traditions," he added.
We
sincerely hope that Kate Middleton will soon make a public appearance, putting
an end to all the controversy surrounding her.
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