A whirlwind of speculation ensued after Princess of Wales Kate Middleton posted her first official photo since abdominal surgery in December.
Kate Middleton and the Palace are already under intense public scrutiny resulting from limited communication from the Palace since she underwent surgery.
There have been no official photographs of Kate since surgery, and each the Prince and Princess of Wales have canceled public appearances, resulting in a swath of conspiracy theories alleging that Kate may be severely sick and even deceased.
Kensington Palace’s photograph, intended to capture a candid family moment, might need also sought to reassure the general public about her well-being. If this was the tactic, it backfired dramatically.
Thank you to your kind wishes and continued support during the last two months.
Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day. C
📸 The Prince of Wales, 2024 pic.twitter.com/6DywGBpLLQ
Within minutes, 1000’s of observers highlighted issues with the image that strongly suggested it was manipulated.
While the ultra-clean aesthetic of the photo is sufficient to tempt initial suspicion, several sections of the image strongly suggest the involvement of AI or digital manipulation.
Of course, the Royals, like other celebrities and public figures, professionally touch up their official photographs. But these edits seem slightly deeper.
The image comprises quite a few evidence of digital manipulation, including diffuse edges, no wedding ring for Kate, oddly crossed fingers, a big Adam’s Apple on Kate’s throat, and green foliage within the background (unlikely for March).
As the controversy picked up, media outlets began withdrawing the photograph, including The Associated Press (AP), Reuters, Getty Images, Agence France-Presse (AFP), and the Press Association. These news agencies allegedly didn’t receive communication or instruction from the Palace.
- PA Media initially trusted the photograph’s authenticity but retracted it after emerging manipulation concerns.
- Getty Images confirmed the removal of the image from their platform, aligning with their editorial policy that mandates the accuracy of the content they supply.
- AP even issued an instantaneous “kill notification” for the image, advising customers to remove it resulting from its apparent manipulation. They reiterated their commitment to editorial standards: “AP doesn’t use altered or digitally manipulated images.”
- Reuters also removed the image following a post-publication review, underlining their ongoing review of the situation.
- AFP notified their clients concerning the alteration concerns resulting in the image withdrawal from their systems.
AP’s “Kill Notification”
On the eleventh March, in response to the unfolding controversy, the Princess of Wales issued a press release: “Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to precise my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a really comfortable Mother’s Day.”
Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to precise my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a really comfortable Mother’s Day. C
Unsurprisingly, this did little or no to quell doubt and rumors. Is it plausible that Kate herself is messing around together with her images? She is a photography enthusiast, so there’s some plausibility to that.
However, is Photoshop even used here? We can’t determine of course, however it perhaps looks as if the editing is more extensive than this will justify.
One possibility is that the image may very well be stitched together from individual manipulated or AI-generated images. The diffuse edges identified within the photos might indicate the usage of AI editing tools inside Photoshop (called Firefly).
While conspiracy theories are rife, one of the striking features is the Palace’s willingness to make use of a manipulated image and the very fact it slipped through a presumably robust editorial process.
At a time of immense speculation about Kate’s health and rising debate surrounding the protection and ethics of AI deep fakes, it doesn’t seem to be a smart move, whether intended in good faith or not.
This incident will leave a long-lasting impression on the dialogue surrounding digital authenticity and the connection between public figures and their portrayal within the media. It’s sure to draw attention for some time yet.
