Princess Catherine spotted in public after photo gaffe fuels #WhereIsKate rumours | ABC News
2 Video Views·Mar 11, 2024
A paparazzi shot has been released of the Prince and Princess of Wales travelling in a car to a royal function in London, after their manipulated image sparked a media frenzy. Princess Catherine has taken responsibility for the picture and apologised for her ‘amateur’ editing attempt .
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Senior British royals have stepped out in public amid ongoing controversy over that digitally altered photo released by Kensington Palace.
A Mother's Day portrait of the Princess of Wales and her three children caused a media frenzy
after photo agencies issued a kill notice questioning its authenticity.
The ABC's Europe correspondent Isabella Higgins has more.
The royals were probably hoping for a day of friendly celebration when they stepped out here at Westminster to mark Commonwealth Day
but instead it was overshadowed by intense public debate around an edited image of Princess Catherine and her three children.
Now this is usually one of the key events on the monarchy's calendar,
an annual service that celebrates the Association of Commonwealth Countries.
It usually includes a message from the monarch themselves.
Of course this year that had to be delivered via video because King Charles is still on a leave of absence
from public duties while he undergoes cancer treatment.
But here today all eyes were on Prince William.
This was his first appearance since that media frenzy broke around that photograph.
Now on his way here there was a paparazzi shot taken of him and his wife Princess Catherine travelling.
Now this photograph was released by Kensington Palace over the weekend to mark British Mother's Day.
They claim it was taken by the prince about a week ago at his home in Windsor.
But just hours after it was released the photo agencies usually distribute these to media outlets
issued a kill notice saying that there were inconsistencies with the image.
Now this has prompted Princess Catherine to take the rare step of making a public statement
where she apologised and said she was the one who edited it.
That as an amateur photographer she often experiments with editing.
Now it might be surprising or seem somewhat trivial that this is dominating such public debate
but increasingly the palace has been under pressure to provide more updates about her health
as rumours become rife on the internet and in some parts of the press
and this latest photo scandal has only added fuel to the fire.
So this event here today at Westminster is really showing the pressure
that the royal family is under with just two senior members able to attend public events
and now this public relations crisis.