Kate, Princess of Wales, apologized Monday for 91裸聊视频渃onfusion91裸聊视频� released by the palace 91裸聊视频� an image of Kate and her children that was intended to calm concern and speculation about the British royal91裸聊视频檚 health, but had the opposite effect.
Several news agencies that initially published the photo, including , withdrew the image over concerns about digital manipulation. Issued by the couple91裸聊视频檚 Kensington Palace office on Sunday to mark Mother91裸聊视频檚 Day in Britain, it was the first official photo of Kate since she had nearly two months ago.
The retractions sent the online rumor mill, already rampant over Kate91裸聊视频檚 operation and recuperation, into overdrive.
In a post on social media, Kate said that 91裸聊视频渓ike many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚 wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused,91裸聊视频� the post said.
In the past, the palace has issued several of Kate91裸聊视频檚 family snapshots featuring her and Prince William with their children Prince George, 10; Princess Charlotte, 8; and Prince Louis, 5.
The latest photo was taken by William, Kensington Palace said. In an accompanying message posted on social media, Kate said: 91裸聊视频淭hank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mother91裸聊视频檚 Day.91裸聊视频�
While there was no suggestion the photo was fake, AP retracted it because closer inspection revealed the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet AP91裸聊视频檚 photo standards. For instance, the image shows an inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte91裸聊视频檚 left hand.
Other major news agencies, including Getty, Reuters and AFP, did the same on Sunday.
Shortly before Kate91裸聊视频檚 statement was issued on Monday, Britain91裸聊视频檚 national news agency said it was following suit. PA said it had asked Kensington Palace for clarification about the image and 91裸聊视频渋n the absence of that clarification, we are killing the image from our picture service.91裸聊视频�
Kensington Palace said it would not release the original unedited photograph. And while Kate91裸聊视频檚 statement provided a measure of clarification, it looked unlikely to stop the swirl of rumor that has accelerated during her absence from public duties.
Former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said the mishandled photo release 91裸聊视频渋s damaging for the royals.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淭hey knew there would be intense interest in any picture they released of Kate,91裸聊视频� he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. 91裸聊视频淭heir challenge is that people will now question whether they can be trusted and believed when they next issue a health update.91裸聊视频�
The royal family is under particular scrutiny because has also had to cancel public duties while he undergoes treatment for an unspecified form of cancer. The monarch has canceled all his public engagements, though he has been photographed walking to church and meeting privately with government officials and dignitaries.
Charles91裸聊视频� relative openness about his diagnosis was a departure for the generally secretive royal family. But it has been eclipsed in popular interest by curiosity over Kate91裸聊视频檚 condition. In the absence of firm information, conspiracy theories have rushed to fill the vacuum.
The release of the photo followed weeks of gossip on social media about what had happened to Kate since she left a hospital Jan. 29 after a nearly two-week stay following planned surgery. She hadn91裸聊视频檛 been seen publicly since Christmas Day.
Kate, 42, underwent surgery Jan. 16 and her condition and the reason for the operation have not been revealed, though Kensington Palace said it was not cancer-related.
Although the palace initially said that it would only provide significant updates and that she would not return to royal duties before Easter 91裸聊视频� March 31 this year 91裸聊视频� it followed up with a statement last month by saying she was doing well and reiterating its previous statement.
91裸聊视频淜ensington Palace made it clear in January the timelines of the princess91裸聊视频� recovery and we91裸聊视频檇 only be providing significant updates,91裸聊视频� the palace said Feb. 29. 91裸聊视频淭hat guidance stands.91裸聊视频�
At the time, royal aides told The Sun newspaper: 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e seen the madness of social media and that is not going to change our strategy. There has been much on social media but the princess has a right to privacy and asks the public to respect that.91裸聊视频�
Further questions were raised last week when the British military seemed to jump the gun in announcing Kate would attend a ceremony in June, apparently without consulting palace officials.
It91裸聊视频檚 up to palace officials, not government departments, to announce the royals91裸聊视频� attendance at events. Kensington Palace didn91裸聊视频檛 confirm any scheduled public events for Kate, and the army later removed reference to her attendance.
Veteran public relations consultant Mark Borkowski said the photo gaffe exposed a wider PR problem for the monarchy.
91裸聊视频淭here doesn91裸聊视频檛 seem to be that much joined-up strategic thinking at the heart of the royal family at the moment, which leads to these problems where it91裸聊视频檚 a very difficult organization to manage in terms of PR,91裸聊视频� he said.
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