NIFTY TRICKS
How hidden image data revealed Kate’s picture editing – including how many times it was altered
Photoshop expert revealed what changes he believes Princess Kate made to her Mother's Day image
HOW Princess Kate edited her family picture has been revealed in hidden data.
A deep dive into the image's metadata showed exactly how many times it was altered.
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The heart-warming snap of Kate beaming with her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, was shared on Sunday.
Image metadata showed it was taken on Friday and edited twice in Photoshop on a Mac device.
Concerned fans were thrilled when Kensington Palace shared the sweet image on Mother's Day.
Kate wrote: "Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day. C."
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But eagle-eyed Royal-lovers were quick to spot what appeared to be major editing fails in the image.
The original X post of Kate's snap now has a warning on it that reads: "Major news agencies, including the Associated Press, Getty Images, and Reuters, note inconsistencies that suggest digital alteration by Kensington Palace."
The warning from Twitter appeared in response to a flood of comments from users pointing out the editing fails.
Kate's photo 'editing' confusion comes as:
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- Piers Morgan calls for the Palace to share the unedited photo to quell internet sleuths
- Kate’s uncle Gary Goldsmith gives his verdict on Mother’s Day picture as he speaks out after CBB eviction
- Photo agencies release ‘kill notice’ on Princess Kate’s Mother’s Day picture
- Twitter’s warning over Princess Kate photo inconsistencies
- King Charles releases video message saying he’ll ‘continue to serve you, to the best of my ability’ amid cancer battle
- Princess Kate is pictured with Prince William leaving Windsor Castle this afternoon in a black Land Rover
- Prince William brushes off Kate’s Photoshop drama as he arrives for Commonwealth Day celebration without his wife
Fans questioned why Kate wasn't wearing her wedding ring and noticed that her other hand was blurry.
Others said Charlotte's cardigan sleeve seemed to disappear and her skirt was fuzzy.
Fans also claimed there appeared to be an odd cut in the skirting board.
In a colour corrected and lightened version of the image, Kate's zip appears not to line up.
APOLOGIES
Meanwhile, others reckoned the colour of the tree's leaves are wrong for this time of year.
Kate quickly claimed responsibility, apologising for the "confusion".
She posted: "Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.
"I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused.
"I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day. C."
Image Meta Data suggests the picture was snapped on Friday on a Canon 5D mark IV camera with a Canon 50mm lens.
It was saved into Adobe Photoshop 23.5 on a Mac on Friday at 9.54pm and again at 9.39am on Saturday.
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It is unclear whether the two saves were made on the same device.
It is also unclear who made the saves - but Kate had said she was "experimenting with editing".
The palace said it would not be reissuing the original unedited photograph of Kate and her children.
It comes despite calls for them to post the un-doctored snap to help quash conspiracy theories about the status of Kate's health.
The Palace had said the photo was snapped by Prince William last week, and was the first time Kate had posted online in months.
The mum-of-three is recovering from major abdominal surgery.
A Photoshop expert, who's been fixing photos for 25 years, has offered his opinion on the image.
Stephen Davies, who says he's often called the '', said he doesn't think there was anything "deceptive" going on - just that the family wanted the perfect photo.
However, he said AI could have been used in one spot.
The photographer told The Sun: "They wanted to get a smiling face on everyone. It is hard to get the perfect photo.
"They’ve probably taken two or three photos and blended them all together - but a couple of things have been overlooked."
Steve said there were tell-tale signs the photos had been combined into one - including Princess Charlotte's sleeve.
He said: "Something’s been altered there. That’s definitely a flaw.
"A few areas do look a bit weird."
The editing expert said there was also a line on Kate's face that looked off, her hair wasn't near her face and Charlotte's skirt looked "strange".
The texture has gone from the jumper - it almost looks like it could be AI
Stephen Davies
Steve continued: "That’s a common thing that they’ve blended photos together.
"I don’t think they’re doing anything deceptive on it - they just wanted the perfect photo and missed a few areas.
"It shows multiple images have been blended together - I do it every day for people when one of the children isn’t looking at the camera."
Steve added that he thought Princess Kate's right hand was added onto Prince Louis' side using AI.
The photographer said: "The texture has gone from the jumper - it almost looks like it could be AI.
"I use it all the time and I have to add the texture back in, it can only do certain resolution."
He continued: "That isn’t motion blur and it’s not out-of-focus blur - there’s no reason for it
"There’s definitely some kind of manipulation there."
'KILL NOTICE'
News agencies ordered a "kill notice" on the picture late Sunday night.
The removal orders were sent after "manipulation" on the image was discovered.
AP's order said the reason for killing the story was: "At closer inspection it appears that the source has manipulated the image."
The order then directs those who have used the photo to remove it from all platforms, including social.
Agence France-Press ordered the "mandatory kill" due to an "editorial issue" and directed that the image may no longer be used.
Reuters said the photo “has been withdrawn following a post publication review.”
Getty Images said: “For editorial reasons, please remove the following image(s) from your system and do not use in any manner.”
Getty said its picture desk "identified a problematic image" provided by the palace and removed it from its site "in accordance with our editorial policy."
The PA news agency said it would be withdrawing the image from its picture service.
A spokesperson for the UK's national news agency said: "Like other news agencies, PA Media issued the handout image provided by Kensington Palace of the Princess of Wales and her children in good faith yesterday.
"We became aware of concerns about the image and we carried a report about it last night, and made clear that we were seeking urgent clarification about the image from Kensington Palace.
In the absence of that clarification, we are killing the image from our picture service."
Each of the news agencies have their own editorial guidelines which govern how they treat images.
AP says that pictures "must always tell the truth" and that it does not alter or manipulate the content of a photograph in any way.
Its guidelines say: "The content of a photograph must not be altered in PhotoShop or by any other means. No element should be digitally added to or subtracted from any photograph."
However, AP says minor adjustments are allowed, they include cropping, colour adjustments, and light adjustments.
COMMONWEALTH
Wills is this afternoon attending celebrations for Commonwealth Day.
Queen Camilla is also in attendance while King Charles delivered a pre-recorded speech as he vowed "to continue to serve [the Commonwealth], to the best of my ability”.
The monarch said: "Having recently celebrated my own 75th birthday, it warms my heart to reflect on the way the Commonwealth has been a constant throughout my own life — a precious source of strength, inspiration and pride.
“In recent weeks, I have been most deeply touched by your wonderfully kind and thoughtful good wishes for my health and, in return, can only continue to serve you, to the best of my ability, throughout the Commonwealth.
“My belief in our shared endeavours and in the potential of our people remains as sure and strong as it has ever been.
“I have no doubt that we will continue to support one another across the Commonwealth as, together, we continue this vital journey.”
It was the Commonwealth Day Service four years ago that was Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's final event before Megxit.
Geri Halliwell arrived at the service this afternoon without Red Bull F1 boss Christian Horner.
The ex-Spice Girl smiled for the cameras as she once again wore a trademark all-white ensemble.
It is the first time she has been seen at a public event without her husband since the scandal broke.
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Commonwealth Day recognises the unity and diversity of the nations and has been marked on the second Monday of March since the 1970s.
The Commonwealth, which has 56 members, continues to grow with African nations Togo and Gabon joining last year.
Why did photo agencies issue ‘kill notices’ on Princess Kate’s Mother’s Day picture?
News agencies ordered a "kill notice" on the picture late Sunday night.
The removal orders were sent after "manipulation" on the image was discovered.
AP's order said the reason for killing the story was: "At closer inspection it appears that the source has manipulated the image."
The order then directs those who have used the photo to remove it from all platforms, including social.
Agence France-Press ordered the "mandatory kill" due to an "editorial issue" and directed that the image may no longer be used.
Reuters said the photo “has been withdrawn following a post publication review.”
Getty Images said: “For editorial reasons, please remove the following image(s) from your system and do not use in any manner.”
Getty said its picture desk "identified a problematic image" provided by the palace and removed it from its site "in accordance with our editorial policy."
The PA news agency said it would be withdrawing the image from its picture service.
A spokesperson for the UK's national news agency said: "Like other news agencies, PA Media issued the handout image provided by Kensington Palace of the Princess of Wales and her children in good faith yesterday.
"We became aware of concerns about the image and we carried a report about it last night, and made clear that we were seeking urgent clarification about the image from Kensington Palace.
In the absence of that clarification, we are killing the image from our picture service."
Each of the news agencies have their own editorial guidelines which govern how they treat images.
AP says that pictures "must always tell the truth" and that it does not alter or manipulate the content of a photograph in any way.
Its guidelines say: "The content of a photograph must not be altered in PhotoShop or by any other means. No element should be digitally added to or subtracted from any photograph."
However, AP says minor adjustments are allowed, they include cropping, colour adjustments, and light adjustments.
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TWELVE INCONSISTENCIES
TWELVE "inconsistencies" have been pointed out as possible clues the photo was edited.
- Distorted worktop
- Louis' blurred thumb
- Kate's blurred hand
- Blurred windowsill
- Hair out of place
- Leaves on the tree in March
- No rings
- Charlotte's sleeve chopped off
- Charlotte's tights green line where airbrushed
- Kate's zip suggests manipulation
- Charlotte's skirt doesn't line up
- Skirting board off-kilter
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