The photograph of Kate Middleton surrounded by her family was supposed to reassure the public. ‘Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day,’ the caption alongside the picture read.

Seasoned royal watchers saw a code in the terse statement: you’ve had your fun speculating what’s going on when it comes to the Princess of Wales’s absence from public life on health grounds, but I’m here, I’m fine, and there’s nothing to worry about. This should, under normal circumstances, have put an end to the matter. But then the picture was withdrawn by four international photo agencies, including Getty Images and Reuters. ‘At closer inspection it appears that the source has manipulated the image’, as Associated Press put it. Cue chaos.

Various strange anomalies in the photo were spotted by internet sleuths

There had been several weeks of gossip about the Princess of Wales’s whereabouts, after she had not been seen in public since she had undergone abdominal surgery in January. The rumours have been reaching fever pitch of absurdity, but such details as Prince William not attending the memorial service for King Constantine of Greece because of ‘a personal matter’ have been taken, whisked up in a blender of tittle-tattle and prurient speculation, and are now fair game for discussion on every forum, social media site or office water cooler in the country.

It was vital then for Kensington Palace that the increasing hysteria should be brought under control. The distribution of the innocuous-looking picture, showing Kate looking well and cheerful with her three children, would have been a carefully managed attempt to resolve the matter. It was announced that the photograph was taken by Prince William himself – thereby explaining his absence in it – and at first, it seemed to do its job.

QOSHE - The Princess of Wales’ ‘manipulated’ photo is a disastrous own goal - Alexander Larman
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The Princess of Wales’ ‘manipulated’ photo is a disastrous own goal

5 26
11.03.2024

The photograph of Kate Middleton surrounded by her family was supposed to reassure the public. ‘Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day,’ the caption alongside the picture read.

Seasoned royal watchers saw a code in the terse statement: you’ve had your fun speculating what’s going on when it comes to the Princess of Wales’s absence from public life on health grounds,........

© The Spectator


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