London, England – A seemingly innocent photo shared by the Prince and Princess of Wales to commemorate Mother’s Day in the UK has sparked controversy after major news agencies, including Associated Press, Getty Images, Reuters, and AFP, removed the image from their libraries over concerns of manipulation by Kensington Palace.
AP issued a notice to clients alerting them that upon closer examination, it appeared that the photo had been altered. Reuters followed suit by deleting the picture after conducting a post-publication review.
Despite the growing scrutiny, Kensington Palace has remained silent on the matter as of Sunday evening UK time. The Prince and Princess of Wales had originally released the photo, taken by Prince William, to mark the occasion and wish their followers a happy Mother’s Day.
Initially thought to dispel rumors about Middleton’s health following her absence from public life due to surgery, the photo has only fueled speculations further after social media users pointed out discrepancies in the image that suggested it had been doctored.
ITV News’ royal editor, Chris Ship, expressed concerns about elements of the photo appearing to be altered, raising serious questions for Kensington Palace.
The issue is expected to become headline news in the UK on Monday, with the controversy surrounding the photo drawing attention from various media outlets and commentators. The unexpected turn of events has shifted the focus from a celebratory occasion to a debate on the authenticity and integrity of images shared by the royal family.