The Royal Family finds itself amid a photo-editing fiasco, with suspicions rising over amateurish alterations made to an image released by the office of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
(Photo : Prince and Princes of Wales)
Screenshot from Prince and Princes of Wales' Instagram
Raising Questions Over
Intended to quell months of speculation surrounding the whereabouts of Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales and future Queen of England, The Verge reported that the photograph has instead ignited a storm of controversy.
The botched editing job is glaringly obvious. Rather than assuaging public concerns about Middleton's absence, the image has only exacerbated them. Upon first glance, the image is disconcerting. Every smile appears unnaturally bright, resembling a distorted Snapchat filter.
Middleton's seated position in the photo, reportedly due to a recent undisclosed abdominal procedure in January, seems off, prompting speculation about the length of her arms. The longer one scrutinizes the image, the more it resembles a puzzle from a children's magazine, inviting viewers to spot its flaws.
Despite widespread criticism, the image remains on the Prince and Princess of Wales' Instagram page, inviting further scrutiny. Screenshots circulating online highlight the areas where clumsy Photoshop attempts are evident, suggesting a heavy-handed reliance on amateur editing techniques.
Sky News reported that the image initially shared by Kensington Palace and distributed by The Associated Press faced scrutiny, leading to its retraction due to detected alterations that failed to meet the AP's photography standards.
Although post-capture editing is a common practice in professional photography, there's no implication of malicious intent from Kensington Palace regarding any alterations made.
Distracting from Bad News About the King
Nevertheless, the absence of an official response from the palace adds to the ambiguity surrounding the image, potentially fueling online speculation and conspiracy theories, particularly in light of Kate Middleton's recent abdominal surgery.
The Royal Family has been secretive about Kate Middleton's health and why she's been absent, leading to rumors. Sharing a clearly edited photo of her on Mother's Day in the UK won't help.
In the world of the British monarchy, looking good in the public eye is crucial. Prince Harry's memoir, "Spare," talks about how family members like Middleton's brother-in-law were used to distract from bad news about King Charles or Prince William.
Managing their image has always been important, ever since Queen Elizabeth's coronation was shown live on TV. Being seen in photos is a big part of their job.
The palace maintains a close relationship with the British press, operating through the Royal Rota system for media coverage. However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, withdrew from the Royal Rota as part of their broader step back from royal duties.
The recent Middleton photo release has stirred up questions. It's conceivable that it's merely a result of poorly executed Photoshop, attempting to merge multiple photos to capture everyone's best expressions. Especially since Children can be notoriously challenging subjects to photograph.
However, the editing appears so amateurish, especially around the hands, that it prompts speculation about whether the intention was to divert attention to Middleton's prolonged absence.
