Palace photo, intended to dispel rumors about Catherine, instead makes them a fan

A photo of Catherine, Princess of Wales, with her three children, released by Kensington Palace and intended to show her recovery from surgery, has come under scrutiny after news agencies advised news organizations on Sunday evening to withdraw the photo, saying that the image had been manipulated. at the palace.

The Associated Press and Reuters both issued advisories about the photo, which circulated widely on news sites including The New York Times and on social media after it was circulated around the palace on Sunday morning. The Times has now removed the photo from an article about it.

In a “kill alert” issued Sunday evening, the AP said: “On closer inspection, it appears that the source manipulated the image. No replacement image will be sent.” It added: “Remove it from all platforms, including social media, where it may still be visible.”

Kensington Palace, where Catherine and her husband, Prince William, have their offices, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Earlier, a palace official said the photo was taken by William last week in Windsor, where the couple live in Adelaide Cottage on the grounds of Windsor Castle.

The accusation that the photo was tampered with is likely to deepen the mystery surrounding 42-year-old Catherine, who has not appeared in public since undergoing abdominal surgery almost two months ago. Although a paparazzi photo of Catherine circulated on the gossip site TMZ last week, this was the first official photo of the princess since her hospitalization in January.

The AP reported that the photo “shows an inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte’s left hand.” The photo showed Catherine flanked by Charlotte, her daughter and youngest son, Louis. George, her eldest son, stands behind her.

Catherine’s prolonged absence from the public eye and lack of information about her medical condition or recovery have created a firestorm of rumors and conspiracy theories on social media. The photo, timed to coincide with Mother’s Day in Britain, was intended to dampen that speculation somewhat.