Getty Images Reveals Another Heavily Retouched Kate Photo With Queen & Children
Photo 99200360 © Maciej Gillert | Dreamstime.com
Getty Images has turned the lens toward another photograph involving Catherine, Princess of Wales, flagging them as “digitally altered.” Among these, a notable image featuring Queen Elizabeth II surrounded by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, captured and shared by Kate herself, has come under scrutiny.
An in-depth analysis by CNN has pinpointed alterations in no fewer than 19 spots within the photo, with discrepancies ranging from the minor to the unmistakable.
The former monarch’s skirt and the blanket beneath her, for example, showed signs of digital tampering, with fabric lines not aligning as they naturally should, suggesting that parts of the image might have been digitally stitched together or altered. Additionally, Princess Charlotte’s hair displayed areas that seemed unnaturally cloned.
More tellingly, the edge of Prince Louis’ shoulder appeared unnaturally blurred, and the lighting on various figures in the photograph didn’t quite match up with the overall lighting of the scene, indicating that some elements might have been edited in from different images.
As you already know, this isn’t the only time a photograph released by Kensington Palace has faced such scrutiny. Most infamous was the Mother’s Day photo of Catherine with her children, released earlier in March 2024, which also showed signs of retouching. Kate herself admitted to “occasionally [experimenting] with editing,” a hobby that has now led to questions about the credibility of official images released by the royal family.
The controversy has not only sparked debate over the integrity of royal photographs but also brought Kate’s public image and health into the spotlight. The family photo was meant to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s 97th birthday, believed to have been taken at Balmoral Castle. However, the digital enhancements have muddied the waters, especially since photo agencies like Getty Images, which distribute images to news outlets, maintain strict guidelines against significant manipulation to preserve the authenticity of photographs.
