The British royals were under pressure this Monday to explain the reasons that led them to publish a manipulated photo of the princess on Sunday. Kate Middletonthe first official image after his abdominal operation.
The photo, which was removed by international press agencies, including AFP, showed a smiling Kate, surrounded by her three children, Jorge, Carlota and Luison Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom.
But an examination of the photo shows, among other things, that the left hand of the princess, 42, wife of Crown Prince William, does not appear to be properly aligned with the sleeve of her jacket, calling into question the authenticity of the photo as a whole. “Instead of cooling speculation [sobre el estado de salud de la princesa tras su operación]”This panorama raises more questions than answers,” a BBC article summarized this Monday.
After initially disseminating the photo provided by the palace, the Associated Press (AP), Reuters, Getty and AFP agencies decided to cancel it. “It has been learned that the image provided by Kensington Palace of Catherine and her children has been altered. It has therefore been removed and should not be used again in any way,” AFP said in a note to Your clients.
“A subsequent investigation revealed that the source manipulated the image in a way that does not meet AP photographic standards,” the US agency said.
Kate, who underwent abdominal surgery in mid-January, without the royal services giving more information about the intervention, has been away from public life since then.
Last week, an American media published a photo of the princess in a car driven by her mother.
The British press did not want to echo that photo out of respect for the princess, after the royal services asked for privacy and respect during her convalescence.
Initially, Kensington Palace, which handles the agenda and information relating to the Princes of Wales, William and Kate, stated that their convalescence and absence from public events would extend at least until the end of March.
Last week, the British Ministry of Defense published on its website that Kate would return to public activity at a military parade on June 8.
The information, which was not confirmed by the royal services, was withdrawn hours later by the same Ministry.
With Sunday’s photo, the palace hoped to put an end to doubts about the princess’s condition.
“Thank you for your wishes and continued support over the last two months. I wish you all a happy Mother’s Day,” stated the message next to the image, signed with a “C” for Catalina.
The communication about Kate’s operation and convalescence has raised many questions and even criticism, and differs from the transparency efforts advocated by Buckingham Palace regarding the cancer suffered by King Charles III.
The manipulated image could fuel those doubts, especially since Kate’s last public appearance dates back to the royal family’s Christmas mass in Sandringham, eastern England, two and a half months ago.
The retouched image of the princess and her children was on the front page of all British newspapers this Monday, which reported on the controversy raised by the snapshot.
The controversy may overshadow this Monday’s ceremony at Westminster Abbey, for the 75th anniversary of the Commonwealth, which Prince William must attend.
In a video message recorded on the occasion of this anniversary of the Commonwealth, an organization that brings together 56 countries that were mostly part of the British Empire, the king, convalescing from cancer, the nature of which he does not know, stated that he will continue to serve the country “to the best of my ability.”
Source: Ambito
