News outlets pull photo of Princess of Wales amid image manipulation concerns

Major news agencies say they retract the first official photo of Catherine, the Princess of Wales since her abdominal surgery nearly two months ago, because it appears to have been manipulated, fueling more conjecture.

The photo, issued to mark Mother’s Day in Britain, shows the smiling Princess of Wales sitting on a garden chair, dressed in jeans, a sweater and a dark jacket, surrounded by her three laughing children, George, Charlotte and Louis.

But close examination shows that Princess Charlotte’s left hand is misaligned with the sleeve of her cardigan, casting doubt on the authenticity of the image.

After publishing the photo provided by the palace, the Associated Press, Reuters and AFP decide to withdraw it.

The Kensington Palace media office is not open on weekends and a voicemail left for a spokesperson was not immediately returned.

The release of the photo followed weeks of gossip on social media about what had happened to the princess since she left a hospital Jan. 29 after a nearly two-week stay following planned surgery. She hadn’t been seen publicly since Christmas Day.

The royal family has been under more scrutiny than usual in recent weeks, because both Catherine and King Charles III can’t carry out their usual public duties due to health problems.

Royal officials say Charles is undergoing treatment for an unspecified form of cancer, which was discovered during treatment for an enlarged prostate. The monarch has canceled all his public engagements while he receives treatment, though he has been photographed walking to church and meeting privately with government officials and dignitaries.

Catherine, 42, underwent surgery Jan. 16 and her condition and the reason for the surgery have not been revealed, though Kensington Palace, Prince William and her office said it was not cancer-related.

Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months.

Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day. C

???? The Prince of Wales, 2024 pic.twitter.com/6DywGBpLLQ

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 10, 2024