What is up with the British Royals and Photoshop? In a surprising revelation (or perhaps not that surprising now), it has come to light that a photograph released by Kensington Palace in April last year, depicting the late Queen Elizabeth II alongside her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, was digitally altered in eight different places, reported Reuters. This disclosure follows an analysis conducted by Reuters photo editors.
Commemorating what would have been Queen Elizabeth’s 97th birthday, the photo was captured by Catherine, Princess of Wales, during a family gathering at Balmoral Castle the previous summer, as confirmed by Kensington Palace. In case you didn’t know, Kate Middleton’s photos have stirred up a hornet’s nest worth of controversies for the Royals, with allegations of editing and an eventual apology from the Princess herself for touching up the images.
‘Digital Enhancement At Source’
Now, earlier this week, Getty Images notified its clients that the late Queen’s Balmoral picture had undergone “digital enhancement at source,” though no further specifics were provided. As reported by Reuters, a spokesperson for Getty Images stated that the company is reviewing handout images and plans to include editor’s notes on images suspected of digital alteration in accordance with its editorial policy.
Here’s the photo in question:
Today would have been Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s 97th birthday.
This photograph – showing her with some of her grandchildren and great grandchildren – was taken at Balmoral last summer.
📸 The Princess pic.twitter.com/1FOU4Ne5DX
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) April 21, 2023
Despite initial scrutiny by Getty, Reuters, and other media outlets, a thorough examination by Reuters photo editors revealed distinct alterations in eight sections of the photograph, accomplished through digital cloning. The motive behind these changes remains unclear at present.
When approached for comment, Kensington Palace declined to offer any insights into the matter. However, a spokesperson from Reuters stated that the news agency is revising its procedures concerning the vetting of images from Kensington Palace following this discovery. The spokesperson emphasised Reuters’ commitment to upholding editorial standards for image quality, accuracy, and reliability.
KateGate: Story So Far
This revelation follows recent controversy surrounding another photograph featuring Middleton and her three children, which was retracted by several prominent news organisations, including Reuters, after subsequent analysis revealed inconsistencies. In response, Kate issued an apology, acknowledging her occasional experimentation with photo editing and expressing regret for any confusion caused by the family picture.
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These developments occur against the backdrop of heightened speculation on social media regarding Kate’s health following her abdominal surgery in January. On Monday, she made her first public appearance since the operation, appearing in a video posted by the Sun newspaper.