Key points:
- A family photo shared by Kate Middleton on Mother’s Day was found to be edited, leading to its retraction by news agencies.
- The metadata reveals the photo was processed twice in Adobe Photoshop, raising questions about the nature of the edits.
- While Kate apologized for the confusion, some agencies have lost trust in Kensington Palace as a source.
A seemingly innocent family photo shared by Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, on Mother’s Day, has ignited a controversy over the issue of photo editing and manipulation. The photo, which featured Kate surrounded by her three children, was retracted by global news agencies after concerns arose that it had been “manipulated.”
According to the metadata of the original file obtained by ABC News, the photo was processed in Adobe Photoshop not once but twice, first on March 8 at 9:54 p.m. local time, and again on March 9 at 9:39 a.m. local time.
The Associated Press, one of the agencies that retracted the photo, told ABC News they did so “because at closer inspection, it appears that the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet AP’s photo standards.”
READ MORE: Vanessa Hudgens Teases ‘Bad Boys 4’ and Singing Role in ‘French Girl’
Kate Middleton’s Apology and Agencies’ Reaction
In the wake of the controversy, Kate issued an apology on social media, stating, “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.”
READ MORE: The Crow Reboot Trailer: Unrecognizable Bill Skarsgård’s Bloody Vengeance
However, her apology did little to quell the controversy. Phil Chetwynd, global news director at Agence France-Presse (AFP), told BBC News Radio that Kensington Palace is no longer considered a trusted source for the agency.
“No, absolutely not,” Chetwynd said when asked if the palace is still a trusted source. “Like with anything, when you’re let down by a source, the bar is raised.”
Theories and Speculation
While most experts agree that the editing in Kate’s photo seems minor, possibly aimed at enhancing the appearance of the subjects, the controversy has fueled conspiracy theories and speculation online about Kate’s health and well-being, with some questioning whether her face was edited into the photo from another shoot.
As the controversy continues, questions remain about how and why the palace and the royal couple landed in such a situation, and why they have remained silent since Kate’s initial apology.
Stay updated with the Latest News and Stories, follow us on our social media platforms.
You can follow us on:
Stay Connected!! Join our WhatsApp Channel
