Several international news agencies have withdrawn an image of Princess Kate and her children due to suspicions of manipulation. The photo, released by Kensington Palace, is the first official image of the Princess of Wales since her abdominal surgery in January. The palace published it on Instagram on Sunday, among other things, on the occasion of British Mother’s Day. It was rebroadcast by several international news agencies.
As the US agency Associated Press (AP) announced in the evening, after careful review it concluded that the photo appeared to have been manipulated by the source “in a way that does not meet AP’s photography standards. The photo shows an “inconsistency” in the depiction of Princess Charlotte’s left hand, according to AP’s reason for its retraction. Reuters also retracted the image.
Unlike the AP, the British news agency PA, from which the German Press Agency also took the picture, decided not to withdraw it initially. However, a spokesman said that Kensington Palace had been urgently asked for clarification. No one could initially be reached at Kensington Palace to answer a dpa query. A written request for comment initially went unanswered.
What was actually intended as a relief after weeks of speculation about Kate’s health is now threatening to become a PR disaster. The Daily Telegraph headlined next to the photo in its Monday edition, “Place photo was manipulated, agencies say.”
In the picture, Kate can be seen sitting on a garden chair on a veranda surrounded by her children. She placed her feet crossed on the floor in front of her. Her arms are wrapped around the waist of her two younger children, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who can be seen to her left and right. Charlotte has sat down with one leg on the armrest. Her eldest son Prince George can be seen behind Kate. Kate smiles, the children seem really happy.
William and Kate’s official Instagram page said: “Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the past two months. Wish everyone a happy Mother’s Day.” The text was signed with a C for Catherine – a sign that she wrote the text herself. The photo was taken by Prince William, the post says.
