Photo agency flags ANOTHER photo of the royals as Prince Archie’s baptism photo is said to have been ‘digitally enhanced’ despite photographer’s denial
Prince Archie’s official christening photo, featuring a proud Duke and Duchess of Sussex, is the latest royal image to be drawn into the photo manipulation saga.
Global photo agency Getty said the portrait had been “digitally enhanced.” It is unclear why, while there are no signs of clear discrepancies. The photo – taken by fashion photographer Chris Allerton – was released after Archie’s christening on July 6, 2019, and shows the two-month-old baby with Meghan, Prince Harry, King Charles, Camilla, William, Kate, Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland and Princess Diana’s sisters.
Last night Mr Allerton strongly denied manipulating the image. He said: ‘A load of cobblers. Bye.’
Prince Archie’s official christening photo has been recalled by global photo agency Getty, which said the portrait has been ‘digitally enhanced’
It follows last week’s furor over the Princess of Wales’s Mother’s Day portrait after she admitted she ‘occasionally experiments with editing’. Several international news agencies have issued a ‘kill’ notice withdrawing its use.
A portrait of the late Queen with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren – taken by Kate at Balmoral in August 2022 – has also received the same branding from Getty. Both photos have an “editor’s note” in the Getty captions that states: “Image has been digitally enhanced at the source.”
Kate’s portrait of the late Queen – with her two grandchildren, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, and James, Earl of Wessex, and eight great-grandchildren, Lena Tindall, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Isla Phillips, Prince Louis, Mia Tindall, Lucas Tindall and Savannah Phillips – was released on April 21 last year to mark Elizabeth II’s 97th birthday.
This portrait of the late Queen with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren – taken by Kate in August 2022 at Balmoral – has been given the same branding by Getty
Mia Grace Tindall’s hair appears to have been digitally altered with a duplicated strand
Princess Charlotte’s floral dress shows a repeated pattern, which could be a sign of editing
There appears to be an inexplicable black triangle next to Prince George’s collar
The tartan pattern on the late Queen’s skirt appears to have been sliced and out of place
It appears that a black cable on the floor has been cut, with blurring around one end
The dimple in the green couch they are sitting on appears to have been digitally altered
Upon closer inspection, it appears that the sofa has been spliced together; there is a vertical line where the tartan of Elizabeth II’s skirt does not fit; there are black spots behind Prince George and Prince Louis. Mia’s hair shows signs of ‘digital repetition’, as does Charlotte’s dress.
A Getty spokesperson said: ‘Getty Images conducts a review of distributed images and, in accordance with its editorial policy, will post an editor’s note on images where the source has suggested they could be digitally enhanced.’
Spokespersons for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were contacted.
Last night, after this story was published on MailOnline, Mr Allerton insisted his photo ‘has not been doctored’ and thanked the Mail for bringing to his attention that Getty had added an ‘editor’s note’ to his image.
He said: ‘I have contacted the Getty editorial team to ask for clarification.’
The photographer recalled that his portrait had required only “the very minimal fine-tuning” of tone and lighting, as he had meticulously prepared his camera and exposure settings before the royal family arrived, and all that remained was to concentrate on “the capturing a relaxing and pleasant moment, quickly and efficiently for them’.