Princess Kate’s Photo of Queen Elizabeth II & Grandchildren Has ‘Inconsistencies’

A Getty Images spokesperson told a news outlet that they discovered the image was 'digitally enhanced' and has 'several inconsistencies.'

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Mar 19, 2024 - 21:02
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Princess Kate’s Photo of Queen Elizabeth II & Grandchildren Has ‘Inconsistencies’

Kate Middleton and Queen Elizabeth II

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Kate Middleton on the catwalk wearing a sheer black lace dress over a bandeau bra and black bikini bottoms St Andrews University Charity Fashion Show, Scotland, Britain - 26 Mar 2002 Kate Middleton, 19, a friend of Prince William at the university wearing a sheer black lace dress over a bandeau bra and black bikini bottoms. She is believed to be one of his future flatmates in his second year.

Kate Middleton Kate Middleton at Game Fair, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, Britain - Aug 2004 Could 2008 be the year that Prince William and Kate Middleton make their relationship official? Back in August 2004, Kate looked like she didn't have a care in the world - perhaps safe in the knowledge that she had snagged the world's number one eligible bachelor. The couple met at University of St Andrews, Scotland, in 2001, when Kate was in her first year. From around Christmas of 2003 to April 2007, she and Prince William were involved in a relationship that was subjected to intense media attention. But at the Game Fair at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, Kate seemed to be bearing up to the pressure pretty well and has rarely been seen without a smile for the cameras since. There have been rumours that the couple have already taken the next major step in their relationship. Miss Middleton has supposedly moved into Clarence House, and given the keys to her Chelsea flat to her sister, Pippa. Will a ring on the finger be next?

Kate Middleton HUGH VAN CUTSEM AND ROSE ASTOR WEDDING, BURFORD, OXFORDSHIRE, BRITAIN - 04 JUN 2005

Image Credit: Oli Scarff - WPA Pool / Getty Images

Will “#KateGate” ever end? Princess Kate‘s Photoshop saga continues, now that a Getty Images rep revealed that the image agency discovered “inconsistencies” in a picture that the 42-year-old took of the late Queen Elizabeth II surrounded by her grandkids. The photo was posted to social media in April 2023 in honor of what would have been the 97th birthday of the U.K.’s longest-reigning monarch.

The portrait featured the queen sitting on a green couch surrounded by Kate and Prince William‘s children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and their royal cousins.

“Today would have been Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s 97th birthday,” Buckingham Palace’s caption read. “This photograph — showing her with some of her grandchildren and great grandchildren — was taken at Balmoral last summer.”

In a new statement to The Telegraph, a Getty Rep noted, “Getty Images has reviewed the image in question and placed an editor’s note on it, stating that the image has been digitally enhanced at source.” Pointing to “several inconsistencies,” the spokesperson highlighted a line by the late queen’s skirt as well as a digital duplication of Mia Tindall’s hair.

News of the photo manipulation comes just one week after Kate’s Instagram Mother’s Day post ignited a fiasco. The Princess of Wales shared a picture of her with her kids in honor of the U.K.’s day celebrating moms, and the Associated Press alerted news publications and journalists that the picture was “manipulated” by its “source.”

“At closer inspection, it appears that the source has manipulated the image,” the AP wrote in its notification to news outlets. “No replacement photo will be sent. Please remove it from all platforms, including social, where it may be visible.”

Additionally, Instagram added the “altered photo/video” label to Kate’s Instagram post.

As a result of the controversy, followers of the royal family speculated that amid Kate’s public absence, there were AI-generated snaps of her circulating online. However, the Princess of Wales promptly issued an apology via X and to her Instagram Stories last week, admitting to “editing” the picture.

“Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,” Kate explained. “I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day.”

The worldwide interest in Kate’s whereabouts comes amid her recovery from a “planned abdominal” procedure, which took place earlier this year. Although Kensington Palace assured fans that she was recovering and would not return to public engagements until after Easter (Sunday, March 31), the Agence-France Presse (AFP) said that the palace was “absolutely not” a “trusted source” anymore.