LONDON: Catherine, Princess of Wales, issued an apology on Monday after an edited official portrait of her, released by the palace, prompted various news agencies to withdraw the image, AFP reported.
The controversy arose over a Mother’s Day portrait showing Kate, 42, seated with her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Questions emerged regarding inconsistencies in the image, including misaligned details such as a zipper on Kate’s jacket and discrepancies in Princess Charlotte’s attire.
In a statement issued via social media platform X, signed by “C” for Catherine, the palace acknowledged the editing and expressed apologies for any confusion caused. While royal sources described the alterations as minor adjustments, Kensington Palace declined to republish the unedited photo.
Princess of Wales Withdraws Edited Photograph
The decision to withdraw the photograph came after major news agencies like AFP, Getty, AP, and Reuters deemed the modifications to be in violation of professional ethical standards.
The situation has prompted speculation and criticism, with commentators suggesting that it casts doubt on royal reassurances about Kate’s health and recovery. Peter Hunt, former BBC royal correspondent, described the incident as “damaging” for the family, emphasizing the importance of maintaining credibility with future health updates.
Despite the controversy, Kate’s message accompanying the photo thanked well-wishers for their support over the past two months, during which she underwent abdominal surgery. The nature of her operation has not been disclosed by royal officials, who have clarified it was not cancer-related.
