A wide stir was caused by the photo of Princess Kate published by Kensington Palace on social media this past Sunday. Five of the largest photo agencies in the world removed the image from their services due to concerns that it may have been manipulated, according to the British newspaper "The Telegraph." The image, taken by Prince William and widely circulated in the past hours, shows the Princess of Wales smiling while sitting on a chair in the garden, wearing jeans and a dark jacket, surrounded by her three children: George, Charlotte, and Louis, who appear to be laughing.
It was accompanied by a short message signed with the letter "C" (the first letter of the princess's name): "Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day." Mother's Day in the United Kingdom falls on March 10. Kensington Palace clarified in a statement that the photo was taken "in Windsor during this week," while Princess Kate's last public appearance was during the Christmas service held by the royal family in Sandringham.
The purpose of sharing this photo was to quell speculations regarding the princess's health and whereabouts. However, instead, a new wave of rumors about Kate's health ignited, particularly after the image was withdrawn from global agencies, which issued a "removal notice" to stop its distribution. Critics pointed out inconsistencies, noting "the misalignment of Princess Charlotte's left hand." Social media users also claimed that Princess Charlotte's cuff and wrist appeared partially missing. Additionally, some pointed out that the Princess of Wales was not wearing her wedding ring, while others observed that Prince Louis was interlocking his fingers and questioned a tree in the background that bore leaves in the middle of March.
