A photograph released by Kensington Palace, purportedly taken by Princess Kate, of Queen Elizabeth II surrounded by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren has sparked controversy after it was revealed that the image had been digitally altered. This marks the second instance of royal photo retouching concerns involving Kate Middleton, following scrutiny over a Mother’s Day picture she edited.
The image, initially shared by Kensington Palace, has drawn attention for allegedly undergoing digital enhancements. Reuters, a renowned news agency, reported discovering eight inconsistencies in the photo. In a statement, Reuters outlined plans to revise its procedures for vetting images from Kensington Palace following this revelation, aligning with their commitment to editorial standards and reliability.
According to Reuters, digital cloning, a technique involving copying pixels to manipulate or obscure elements within a photo, was employed in eight instances within the image. Getty Images and CNN also acknowledged the photograph’s digital enhancements, with CNN identifying at least 19 areas displaying signs of alteration.
CNN’s investigation revealed several discrepancies in the Balmoral Castle portrait. These included misalignments on Queen Elizabeth’s attire and the surrounding furniture, cloned strands of Princess Charlotte’s hair, and inconsistencies in lighting among the royal subjects. Getty Images announced a review of handout images and pledged to mark images where potential digital enhancements were suggested, adhering to their editorial policy.
This controversy arises amid Kate Middleton’s public appearance after an extended absence. The scrutiny adds to the previous incident where a photo of Kate with her children, released for Mother’s Day, was retracted by prominent news outlets due to editorial concerns. Kate issued an apology for any confusion caused by the photo.
In response to the latest developments, Kensington Palace and representatives of Princess Kate are yet to comment. The controversy underscores the challenges of maintaining transparency and authenticity in the dissemination of royal imagery, prompting a reevaluation of protocols by media outlets and raising questions about the use of digital editing techniques in official royal communications.
