Earlier this year, Princess Kate and Prince William found themselves at the center of a Photoshop scandal. After releasing a photo of Kate Middleton and their three kids—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—for Mother's Day, it was revealed that the image had been manipulated. Now, a royal biographer has revealed how Kate and William felt when the general public reacted negatively to their photo.
Robert Hardman’s book, Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story, has been serialized in the Daily Mail, with the royal expert dishing on Kate and William's Photoshop scandal.
"Anything written or said about the Princess of Wales at that point was at fever pitch and front page news," a Palace employee told Hardman of the incident.
At the time, the photograph was pulled from multiple photo agencies due to being edited. "It also spoke to the nervousness of the photography industry around AI and their future," the Palace source explained. "Even so, the reaction seemed extremely disproportionate."
Of course, Princess Kate only had good intentions when she initially released the image. "As far as the Princess was concerned... this had just been a mother deciding to share a personal picture of her and her children on Mother's Day to bring some joy to the nation," a Palace aide told Hardman.
However, the Prince and Princess of Wales took responsibility for the image, as they have involvement in what the Palace puts out into the world. As the staff member told Hardman, "The Prince and Princess have agency in everything... They are the final decision-makers."
At the time, Princess Kate shared a heartfelt apology regarding the edited photo in an Instagram Story.
"Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing," she explained. "I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused." She signed off the message, writing, "I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother's Day."
Meanwhile, reports suggested that the Princess of Wales felt "awful" over the debacle.
-
Princess Diana's Niece Amelia Spencer Reveals Secret Fifth Bridal OutfitRoyal (adjacent) wedding goals, period.
-
Meet the Model-Off-Duty Hairstyle That Doubles as a Faux Face LiftJawline? Snatched.
-
Hailey Bieber's Sugar Cookie Pedicure Is Almost Too SweetThe beauty founder is tapping back into a milky white nail trend.
-
How Princess Kate and Duchess Sophie's Sisterly Relationship Is "One of the Most Important Partnerships" for the RoyalsThe royal duo has formed "an unbreakable bond" over the years.
-
Princess Kate Raised Eyebrows By Wearing Princess Diana's Priceless Ring During This Risky Vacation ActivityIt was a choice.
-
All the Details on Princess Kate and Prince William's Seriously Luxe Mustique VacationFrom a $42k villa with a private butler to a celebrity-fave bar, the Waleses are enjoying some fun in the sun.
-
Prince Louis Included a Sweet Tribute to Mom Princess Kate in Adorable New PortraitHe's an artist in the making.
-
Princess Kate "Put Her Foot Down" and Refused to Let George, Charlotte, and Louis Take Part in "Blooding" TraditionThe Princess of Wales is raising her kids on her own terms.
-
Kate Middleton Shares Astounding Artwork by Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince LouisThe Princess of Wales showcased her own artistic prowess with a delicate drawing.
-
Kate Middleton Trades Her Red Carpet BAFTAs Gown for a Luxe Beach Vacation BikiniShe's skipping the awards ceremony for a private island loved by celebs.
-
Prince William "Didn't Have a Romantic Bone in His Body" Before Falling in Love With Kate Middleton"William also attempted to turn Kate's head with his sporting prowess."
