PRINCESS Kate has issued an apology and admits to editing her Mother's Day photo - but the palace has refused to release the original.
The heartwarming snap of Kate beaming with her children, PrinceGeorge, PrincessCharlotteand PrinceLouis, was shared on Sunday.
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While many were thrilled to see thePrincess of Wales looking wellfollowing her abdominal surgery two months ago, fans quickly spotted at least four "editing fails".
The image, which was put out byKensington Palace, was then the subject of a "kill notice" by major new agencies.
Metadata shows it was saved in Adobe Photoshop and it was edited twice.
Five large news agencies - AP, Getty Images, Reuters, AFP and PA - all withdrew the snap over fears it had been "edited at the source".
In a statement today, the Princess of Wales has since apologised for the picture's amendments - admitting she caused "confusion" with her edits.
Kate said: "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."
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Kensington Palace said it would not be reissuing the original unedited photograph of Kate and her children.
It comes despite calls for them to post the un-doctored snap to help quash conspiracy theories about the status of Kate's health.
Kate's uncle Gary Goldsmith gives his verdict on Mother's Day picture as he speaks out after CBB eviction
Just hours before Kate's apology,Piers Morgan said the original should be released.
He wrote on X/Twitter: "The Palace should release the unedited photo of Kate & the kids asap.
"If it’s just a small bit of harmless retouching gone wrong, nobody will care.
"If they don’t release the original pic, the conspiracy theories they were trying to kill, will get way worse..."
The sweet Mother's Day picture was shared after weeks of speculation surrounding Kate's health - as she recovers from abdominal surgery.
The original X post now has a warning on it that reads: "Major news agencies, including the Associated Press, Getty Images, and Reuters, note inconsistencies that suggest digital alteration by Kensington Palace."
Royal Photoshop fails over the years
KATE'S Mother's Day picture isn't the first time the royals have found themselves caught up in editing fails.
Christmas 2023
Prince Louis appeared to be missing a finger in the Wales' latest Christmas card.
Fans also spotted another odd detail in the photo, saying thatPrince William's leg appeared to be missing.
The late Queen's hand retouch
A portrait of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip appeared to have been Photo-shopped.
There is something odd about the monarch's clasped hands in the picture, which was put out a couple of years before shediedin September 2022.
Eagle-eyed royal fans spotted an odd dark outline around the edge of the Queen's right hand, which they claimed suggested it had been cut in from an alternative image.
'Zombie' Kate
An image of the Princess of Wales was used on the front of Australianpublication Woman’s Day.
It looks like someone touched up the photo of Kate’s face ahead of the birth ofPrince Louisin 2018.
Cosmpolitan magazinesubsequently penned a scathing review, referring to the airbrushing as "creepy zombie photoshopping".
Wills' bald spot
Vanity Fair was accused of thickening Prince William's hair during a shoot after the birth of George.
In response the publication insisted it had simply added more colours to make the photo look more “vibrant”.
George edits
US weekly changed George's appearance while he was still a baby.
The second-in-line to the throne gained greener eyes, pinker lips, more colourful hair and chubbier cheeks when he appeared on the cover of the publication in 2014.
Smaller waist
The Press Complaints Commission was called in when Grazia magazine edited a snap of Princess Kate on herwedding dayin 2011 to make her waist look slimmer.
The publication admitted altering the photo, but claimed it was an inadvertent error when they cut her husband William out of the image.
The warning from Twitter appeared in response to a flood of comments from users pointing out the editing fails.
Fans questioned whyKatewasn't wearing her wedding ring and noticed that her other hand was blurry.
Others said Charlotte's cardigan sleeve seemed to disappear and her skirt was fuzzy.
Fans also claimed there appeared to be an odd cut in the skirting board.
In a colour corrected and lightened version of the image, Kate's zip appears not to line up.
Meanwhile, others reckoned the colour of the tree's leaves are wrong for this time of year.
The Palace had said the photo was snapped byPrince Williamlast week, and was the first time Kate had posted online in months.
She captioned the sweet pic:"Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months.
"Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day. C."
Photo ‘editing’ backlash comes as:
- Piers Morgancalls for the Palace to share the unedited photo to quell internet sleuths
- Kate’s uncleGary Goldsmithgives his verdict on Mother’s Day picture as he speaks out after CBB eviction
- Photo agencies release‘kill notice’on Princess Kate’s Mother’s Day picture
- Twitter’s warningover Princess Kate photo inconsistenciesKing Charles releasesvideo messagesaying he’ll ‘continue to serve you, to the best of my ability’ amid cancer battle
- Princess Kate ispictured with Prince Williamleaving Windsor Castle this afternoon in a black Land Rover
- Prince Williambrushes off Kate’s Photoshop dramaas he arrives for Commonwealth Day celebration without his wife
Last nightinternational picture agencies Reuters, AP, Getty and AFP issued "mandatory kill" warningsfor the family photo.
It is standard practice for picture agencies to withdraw edited images.
In its "kill notice", AP said: "At closer inspection, it appears that the source has manipulated the image."
Security Minister Tom Tugendhat was quizzed on the photo this morning and said he thought it was "important that we record what we put out is honest and that we record situations accurately".
He told Times Radio: "You wouldn't expect me to comment on any photos, particularly not on Mother's Day, when I think many of us were snapping away and slightly improving photographs that we took of our mothers, but mostly of our kids who were sort of wriggling around.
"So I'm not going to be judging on that.
"But I think it is important that we record what we put out is honest and that we record situations accurately.
"So I'm sure that like any family, there's a few moments that you could get better."
Asked if his department would release a photo that had been doctored, he said: "We're always very careful about what we put out. But you're luring me down a path here.
"I'm not going down there because it's a family photo and it's Mother's Day."
It comes as rumours about Kate's health were sparked after Williammissed a memorial servicetwo weeks ago.
He had been expected to perform a reading, but pulled out due to a "personal matter".
Why were 'kill notices' issued?
News agenciesordered a "kill notice" on the picturelate Sunday night.
The removal orders were sent after "manipulation" on the image was discovered.
AP's order said the reason for killing the story was: "At closer inspection it appears that the source has manipulated the image."
The order then directs those who have used the photo to remove it from all platforms, including social.
Agence France-Press ordered the "mandatory kill" due to an "editorial issue" and directed that the image may no longer be used.
Reuters said the photo “has been withdrawn following a post publication review.”
Getty Images said: “For editorial reasons, please remove the following image(s) from your system and do not use in any manner.”
Getty said its picture desk "identified a problematic image" provided by the palace and removed it from its site "in accordance with our editorial policy."
PA said: "Like other news agencies, PA Media issued the handout image provided by Kensington Palace of the Princess of Wales and her children in good faith yesterday.
"We became aware of concerns about the image and we carried a report about it last night, and made clear that we were seeking urgent clarification about the image from Kensington Palace.
"In the absence of that clarification, we are killing the image from our picture service."
Each of the news agencies have their own editorial guidelines which govern how they treat images.
AP says that pictures "must always tell the truth" and that it does not alter or manipulate the content of a photograph in any way.
Its guidelines say: "The content of a photograph must not be altered in PhotoShop or by any other means. No element should be digitally added to or subtracted from any photograph."
However, AP says minor adjustments are allowed, they include cropping, colour adjustments, and light adjustments.
Kate had only beenspotted once since her surgery, in the passenger seat of a black Audias mumCarole, 69, drove her near Windsor Castle.
She was wearing sunglasses and appeared to be smiling slightly.
It followed her “planned major abdominal surgery” in January at the London clinic.
Thecentral London private hospitalalso treated The King while he underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate.
Kensington Palace said previously Kate wasunlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.
The statement read: "The Princess of Waleswishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements.
"She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible."
Kate's uncleGary Goldsmith has also spoken about her recovery on Celebrity Big Brother.
He said:"I spoke to her mum, my sister, she's getting the best care in the world.
"And all the family's done is put the wagons round and look after family first before anything else.
"They put a statement out and just said, 'She's taking some time to [recuperate] and will see you in Easter'."
If the princess recovers according to plans, her first engagement back could be at the family service atSt George’s Chapel, Windsor, onEasterSunday, March 31.
Read More on The US Sun
It comes after confusion over whetherthe royal would be making an appearancewhile reviewing a dress rehearsal at Horse Guards Parade for the Trooping of the Colour on June 8.
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