Princess Kate has issued an apology following widespread speculation over an altered image.
Kate Middleton's edited photo for Mother's Day has raised significant concerns, according to a royal correspondent.
The image, shared on social media to mark the occasion, sparked controversy when eagle-eyed royal fans noticed anomalies in the appearance of Princess Charlotte's cardigan and Prince Louis's hand.
In a statement released today by the Princess of Wales, she personally apologized for any "confusion" arising from the photo, confirming her role in editing it.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, the Princess stated: "Like many amateur photographers, I occasionally experiment with editing. I wish to express my apologies for any confusion caused by the family photograph we shared yesterday. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day."
Reacting to the image and ensuing speculation, former BBC Royal Correspondent Michael Cole remarked that the scandal has "compromised the credibility" of the Royal Family.
He emphasized that the response to the image's release is far from trivial, branding it an "absolute fiasco."
Cole elaborated on the decision by four major press agencies to retract the image ahead of the Princess's statement, emphasizing the necessity to discern authentic content from manipulated media.
Predicting the repercussions for the Prince and Princess of Wales, Cole deemed it a "disaster," attributing the incident to a significant oversight by a press officer.
Meanwhile, Kate was seen departing Windsor Castle with Prince William, seemingly putting an end to conspiracy theories mere hours after issuing her apology for the digitally altered family portrait released on Mother's Day.
