London, UK - March 11, 2024
Four major photo agencies have withdrawn a recent image of Catherine, Princess of Wales, and her children, citing concerns about potential manipulation.
The photo, released by Kensington Palace and said to be taken by Prince William for Mother's Day, showed the Princess surrounded by Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. However, agencies including Getty Images, AFP, Reuters, and Associated Press have all pulled the photo from their databases.
The Associated Press cited "an inconsistency in alignment of Princess Charlotte's left hand" as the reason for retraction. Social media users had also raised questions about the image's authenticity, speculating about the use of AI or excessive editing.
Kensington Palace has declined to comment on the situation. No replacement photo has been offered.
This incident comes after weeks of speculation about the Princess's health due to her absence from public events since Christmas Day. The photo's release was intended to be her first official appearance since undergoing abdominal surgery in January.
The retraction adds fuel to the rumors and raises questions about the transparency of official royal photos.
