Princess of Wales: Picture agencies pull Kate photo amid 'manipulation' concerns

Big companies that handle pictures have removed a recently released photo of the late Princess of Wales because they suspect it was altered by whoever provided it.

Various photo agencies shared the picture on Sunday, but later Reuters, Associated Press (AP), Getty Images, and Agence France-Presse (AFP) instructed media sources to remove the photo from their systems and archives.

According to Sky News, AP has revealed that the picture displays a discrepancy in the positioning of Princess Charlotte's left hand.

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The photo that's being referenced was made public to honor the occasion of Mother's Day. It depicts Kate in the company of her three kids from her marriage to Prince William: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

Kensington Palace has chosen not to provide a statement regarding the removal of the photograph from picture agencies.

A statement given by Associated Press to Sky News informed that they released a photograph which was originally issued by Kensington Palace. After examining the photo deeply, they realized that the source had altered the image in a way that was not consistent with AP's photo guidelines. Thus, they withdrew the photo from circulation.

The picture depicts a deviation in the positioning of Princess Charlotte's left hand.

According to Reuters, they have removed the image after conducting a review after its publication. Their representative stated that they are currently looking into the situation.

At the same time, AFP reported that it was discovered that the picture of the "Princess of Wales and her offspring had been revised", and as a result, was taken off from its networks.

According to an individual representing Getty Images who spoke to Sky News, they discovered an issue with an image that was given to Getty Images by Kensington Palace earlier today. They were able to take action and remove the image from their website in line with their rules for publishing content.

A representative speaking for the Press Association news agency declared that they did not remove the photo from their service, but are currently trying to obtain prompt clarification from Kensington Palace concerning the doubts of manipulation.

X readers, previously named Twitter users, wrote a community comment on a post shared by the Prince and Princess of Wales' account that included a picture.

The feature called community notes enables users to provide additional information to fellow readers or viewers about the content they are currently engaging with. This helps to enhance the comprehension of the material and make it more informative.

The message states that the picture has likely been altered using digital means and therefore, several big news organizations have removed this image from their coverage.

The response from the Palace adds an extra layer of strangeness to the situation.

It's quite bizarre. A few reputable global news organizations have made the choice to suppress this picture.

Put differently, they are withdrawing it from their distribution platforms since they are of the opinion that it has been modified, manipulated, or photoshopped - you can use any term for it.

We're uncertain about the definition of photo manipulation. Could it involve using filters or making adjustments? Currently, we're unaware.

We have learned that Kensington Palace has refused to give a statement, which adds to the strangeness of the situation.

It's a widespread practice to edit photos after capturing them for professional reasons, and there's no hint that Kensington Palace intended anything other than enhancing the image if they made changes to it.

Nonetheless, in the absence of an authorized statement from the palace, the ambiguity regarding the picture is expected to intensify the proliferation of online conjectures regarding Kate. Such speculations have been circulating on the internet ever since news of her abdominal surgery.

People have been guessing about Kate's well-being since she was hospitalized briefly in January. She hasn't been spotted in the open since she went for a stroll with other members of the Royal Family on Christmas Day.

Specifics about the state of the princess have not been made publicly available, but it has been previously shared by Kensington Palace that it is not related to cancer. Kate wants to keep her medical information private.

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When discussing the alteration of the Mother's Day image, royal commentator Peter Hunt stated that it could lead to more conjecture and harm the reputation of the royal family.

They were aware that any photo of Kate they published would generate a lot of attention.

The difficulty faced by them is that individuals may start to doubt their reliability and honesty when they release future health-related information.

The Prince of Wales took a photo in Windsor earlier this week, which was shared by Kensington Palace through various agencies.

Kate posted a photo on Instagram and included a message expressing gratitude for the kindness and ongoing support she has received throughout the past two months.

Sending heartfelt greetings to all on this joyous occasion of Mother's Day.

The Instagram post of the Prince and Princess of Wales, displaying the picture, still remains on the platform.

Kate was scheduled to undergo surgery on her abdomen on January 16th, precisely seven days after she turned 42 years old.

The palace announced that the surgery was a triumph on the next day. After that, Kate remained at the hospital until 29th January, after which she was allowed to return home in Windsor.

When it was reported, Sky News knew that it was expected for her to recover in a period of approximately two to three months.

Kate has been out of the public eye since December, but a photograph of her was recently shared on the US celebrity news website TMZ on March 4th.

It is believed that an unapproved photographer took the picture close to Windsor Castle.

It is predicted that Kate will not resume her official responsibilities until the end of the Easter holiday. In the meantime, William, who is 41 years old, has temporarily put his position in the royal family on hold to balance taking care of their children and supporting his wife.

He performed his initial public activities after undergoing surgery at the beginning of February.