Beside the video released by TMZ which shows Kate Middleton doing groceries with Prince William at the Windsor Farm shop, a business about a mile from their Adelaide Cottage home, the stir surrounding the Mother’s Day photo released by Kate, which royal experts dubbed “yet another public relations disaster,” is still a hot topic.
On the photo in question, Kate poses on the patio with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis surround her. They are all smiling and look absolutely adorable.
“Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day,” the caption on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ official Instagram account read. It was signed “C,” meaning Kate herself had written it.
As expected, the photo was shared worldwide and was picked up but every single media outlet out there.
The comments under the photo came pouring in with a great number of people wishing Kate a speedy recovery.
According to some royal experts, Kate opted to post a photo in order to put a stop to the speculations surrounding her surgery and her recovery.
“They [Kensington Palace] are trying to send a clear message to both the public and the press to respect Kate’s privacy on this medical matter,” royal historian Kate Williams said. “What they’re trying to say is Kate is recovering, she’s fine, no more worries, no more panic, no more speculation.”
She added: “I think the last thing they [Kensington Palace] want is for her to feel she can’t go out and walk in case she’s going to be photographed.”
Shortly after the photo of the happy family was released, some started questioning its authenticity because as they claimed, the photo was obviously edited.
Some edit fails, as noticed by experts, were Princess Charlotte’s missing sleeve and blurred skirt and Kate’s misplaced zip.
Others noticed that Kate wasn’t wearing her ring and her hand around Louis was “blurry.” Her wrist and jumper sleeve were also manipulated by photoshop according to many, as well as her chin.
“The more you look at this, the worse it gets. the hands, the fact some parts are so blurry and some so sharp, the way Charlotte is apparently balancing in that position, there is literally a crease in the step, the reflection in the window doesn’t match,” one user wrote on X.
The Princess took “the blame” for manipulating the photo.
On her and William’s official X account, she wrote, “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.”
Kensington Palace later confirmed it “would not be reissuing the original unedited photograph of Kate and her children.”
The Associated Press, Reuters, Getty Images, and Agence France-Presse all decided to issue “kill notices,” which are advisory notices to remove or not use a specific photo.
“It appears that the source has manipulated the image,” the Associated Press notification read.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Media Show, Phil Chetwynd, AFP’s global news director, said that Kensington Palace is no longer a trusted source.
“No, absolutely not. Like with anything, when you’re let down by a source the bar is raised … We sent out notes to all our teams at the moment to be absolutely super more vigilant about the content coming across our desk — even from what we would call trusted sources,” he said, as reported by Deadline.
He added that kill notices are usually reserved for sources such as North Korea.
“To kill something on the basis of manipulation [is rare. We do it] once a year maybe, I hope less. The previous kills we’ve had have been from the North Korean news agency or the Iranian news agency,” Chetwynd added.
Currently, under the Instagram post, a warning reads: “Altered photo/video. The same altered photo was reviewed by independent fact-checkers in another post.”
However, the detail that worried many the most was the missing wedding ring from Kate’s finger.
As expected, people started talking and the media picked up plenty of stories.
Some started questioning the strength of the royal marriage, and even brought up the story of William’s alleged infidelity that was first mentioned in the media some five years ago but was dubbed a rumor by William and the Palace.
In April 2019, the American publication In Touch reported that William “may” have had an affair with a woman named Rose Hanbury, who happens to be the Marchioness of Cholmondeley and a friend of Kate’s.
Allegedly, Kate confronted William about the rumors but he “laughed it off” and claimed that wasn’t true.
Daily Mail royal expert Richard Kay spoke on the matter and said it was fake news. “Both sides have considered legal action, but because none of the reports have been able to offer any evidence about what the so-called dispute is about, they have chosen to ignore it… These hurtful rumors of a fallout are simply false,” Kay wrote.
Rose and her husband live near Kate and William in a home with 106 rooms.
Rose’s maternal grandmother, Lady Elizabeth Lambert, was one of late Queen Elizabeth’s bridesmaids when she married Prince Philip, so this woman’s connection with the royals dates way back.
She and Kate are said to be friends who are both patrons of the East Anglia Children’s Hospice. What’s most, it has been reported that in the past William, Kate, Rose, and Rose’s husband David, the Marquess of Cholmondeley, double-dated.
Today, Rose works as a political researcher for the Conservative MP Michael Gove, but in the past she used to be a model. She and her husband started dating in 2003 and tied the knot six years later, welcoming three children together, twin brothers Alexander, the Earl of Rocksavage, and Lord Oliver Cholmondeley and daughter, Lady Iris.
Lord Oliver was one of King Charles’ Pages on Honor during his coronation in May of this year.
Currently, Rose’s husband is appointed Lord-in-Waiting to King Charles.
When the rumor about the alleged affair between William and Rose spread, it was reported that they were all left baffled.
“These hurtful rumours of a fallout are simply false. William and David were in touch with each other over the weekend, not knowing whether to laugh or complain,” an insider said.
“Both wives are hurt by the suggestion that there is any argument or even a coolness between them. They have plans for future events involving their charity.”
As per The Mirror, another friend said at the time: “It has now become very upsetting, and they are all concerned for each other, as they have never before had to start denying something for which there is no evidence or even a smidgen of truth. It is just mad.”
Even now, it is still not clear if this rumor is by any chance true.
It was last week that this rumor got heated again when on his Late Night show, talk show host Stephen Colbert brought it up while speaking of Kate not wearing her ring.
Many reported strongly on the host’s words, including Kate and William’s close friends.
As reported by The Daily Beast, a former royal staffer said that Stephen Colbert’s comments would be “deeply annoying” as the Prince and Princess of Wales’ office at Kensington Palace desperately tries to turn the ship around following the tumultuous week that’s passed.
“It’s deeply annoying and unhelpful for the palace, but it’s not surprising that the affair rumors are being reheated. What else are people supposed to think when she sends out a photo not wearing her wedding ring?” the royal staffer, who, according to the Daily Beast, worked with William and Kate when employed at the palace, said.
The couple’s friends, who were said to have been left baffled by Kate’s photo, commented: “They are often seen together at school events, and really it is remarkable how one and often both of them will always be at every match, every music concert and every prize giving.
“The relationship has always seemed incredibly strong despite the immense pressure they are under, so it’s fair to say we were all completely baffled when the picture came out with the wedding ring missing, especially as it was photoshopped. It just seemed guaranteed to get people asking questions about the state of the marriage.”
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