A photograph of Princess Kate Middleton and her children reignited online conspiracy theories on Sunday after international media outlets claimed it had been digitally altered. The photo, posted to the Royal Family’s social media in celebration of British Mother’s Day, has fueled concern and speculation about the princess’ health following her extended absence from the public eye.
On January 17, the Kensington Palace office of William and Catherine, Prince and Princess of Wales, announced that Middleton had been hospitalized after a “planned abdominal surgery” since Christmas. The palace statement indicated that the princess would not return to public duties until after Easter to allow her to recover. No details about the procedure were provided other than a clarification that it was not cancer-related.
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Since then, Middleton has only been seen publicly once, when paparazzi captured a photo of her in a car with her mother, Carole Middleton, near Windsor Castle earlier this month. Despite palace updates that her recovery was progressing normally, social media exploded with theories suggesting that she had undergone cosmetic surgery, was suffering from a serious illness, had lapsed into a coma, or had been checked into a rehab facility. Even more extreme speculation claimed that she had died in the hospital and that the Royal Family was covering up her passing.
While these theories had died down slightly in the last month, Middleton began trending on social media once again after a “manipulated” family photo was posted to the Prince and Princess of Wales X account.
The accompanying caption thanked the public for their “kind wishes and continued support” during her recovery and wished everyone a happy Mother’s Day. It was signed “C” for Catherine.
Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months.
Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day. C
📸 The Prince of Wales, 2024 pic.twitter.com/6DywGBpLLQ
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 10, 2024
The photo of the princess and her children was shared widely by media outlets, but it was quickly pulled from circulation after a closer inspection revealed signs of digital editing. News agencies including the Associated Press, BBC, Reuters, and others noted inconsistencies throughout the picture, including a misalignment of eight-year-old Princess Charlotte’s hand and the absence of Middleton’s wedding ring.
Per the Associated Press, “While there was no suggestion the photo was fake, AP retracted it because closer inspection revealed the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet AP’s photo standards.”
Middleton addressed the issues with the photo on Monday, taking responsibility for the visible edits.
“Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,” she wrote on X. “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.”
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. C
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 11, 2024
The princess has previously taken responsibility for a Photoshop mishap on her family’s 2023 Christmas card, in which five-year-old Prince Louis appeared to be missing a finger.
Connor Walcott is a staff writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
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