Home / Latest News / Prince George

'It Does Pose a Question': Kate Middleton Photo 'Was Meant to Reassure Us But Has Done the Opposite'

The 'heavily edited' photo of Kate, Princess of Wales, with her children was 'meant to reassure' people of the princess' health, but has reportedly done the opposite.

princess kate
Princess Kate's Mother's Day 2024 photo. Source: MEGA

The Sunday, March 10, photograph Kate, Princess of Wales, released has caused a media sensation due to its "heavily edited" distortions, which the princess took the blame for.

This led veteran royal historian Hugo Vickers to share with an outlet: "This photograph is meant to reassure us that the Princess of Wales is well. If it is manipulated, it does pose a question."

princess kate

"It's a pity," he added. "We have lost confidence in the photo. It is meant to reassure us but there have been doubts raised and we are all worried about it."

The media furor surrounding the image has led the future queen to reportedly move to Anmer Hall in Norfolk, to recuperate after weeks at Adelaide Cottage, in a relocation that led a royal insider to claim that "something is terribly wrong" with Her Royal Highness.

"The idea that Kate could not sit for one photo session tells me this is a much more dire situation than anyone knows," they claimed when referencing the controversial edited image.

princess kate

Catherine, Princess of Wales, broke one of the monarchy's cardinal rules of "never explain" when she personally apologized for her Mother's Day photoshop mishap. Sources close to Her Royal Highness said she was simply trying to make the image "the best it could be" and that she is "deeply upset" by the furor her editing has caused.

The future queen released a photograph on Sunday, March 10, that featured herself, and her three children, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte. A huge controversy arose sometime later when major media outlets such as the Associated Press and Reuters recalled the image due to suspicious alterations found within it. The snap was taken by Prince William and is the first clear image of the princess since Christmas Day 2023.

Scouts on social media noticed a litany of editing mishaps, with Charlotte's hands being called out as "clearly cut and paste" from previous images. Conspiracies even arose that the photo of the Princess of Wales was an old image from when she appeared in a magazine years ago.

princess kate

Kate issued an apology for altering the image on her and William's social media accounts, which is a rare thing for a senior, British royal to do. Monarchy traditionalists quickly scolded Her Royal Highness for "playing to the gallery," which is one of the distinctions of royalty in that no response "kills the sensationalism," according to a palace insider.

"Like other news agencies, PA Media issued the handout image provided by Kensington Palace of the Princess of Wales and her children in good faith yesterday," a spokesperson for the U.K.’s national news agency shared in a press release.

princess kate

Powered by RedCircle

GBN interviewed Vickers.

GET BREAKING ROYAL NEWS
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

More Stories

A UK barrister has a warning for the royals suggesting that the bedrock of British culture is under a strain that it may never truly recover. 
By Sakshi Singh · FEB 19, 2026
A new account suggests the two sisters-in-law competed fiercely for press attention and public approval.
By Abha Anindita · FEB 7, 2026
The Grammy-nominated artist discussed Harry and Meghan on a podcast, and shared what she thought about the estrangement.
By Abha Anindita · FEB 5, 2026
Meghan has already started to tease what appears to be a carefully thought-out Valentine's Day rollout tied to love, gifting, and slow mornings at home.
By Madhurima · JAN 28, 2026
Although Prince Harry's private security team identified her immediately, they found themselves in a legal stalemate.
By Sakshi Singh · JAN 26, 2026
Harry named 10 associates he was in regular contact with during the relevant period, including his brother, sister-in-law, and ex, Chelsy Davy.
By Medha Sengupta · JAN 22, 2026
The Duke of Sussex entered the Gothic Victorian court building around 10 AM.
By Abha Anindita · JAN 19, 2026
This time around, the palace appears unwilling to loosen its purse strings beyond what is necessary.
By Medha Sengupta · JAN 17, 2026
Insiders say the couple took on total risk with no investors involved.
By Abha Anindita · JAN 16, 2026
Sources say the silence was deliberate — but the Princess of Wales is choosing calm
By Abha Anindita · JAN 13, 2026