Royal Family’s Photoshop Fail Sparks Online Speculation
Middleton’s Edited Mother’s Day Photo Raises Eyebrows
The royal family recently shared a photograph of Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, with her three children, marking her first public image since undergoing abdominal surgery in January. However, as the picture began to circulate online, the Associated Press and other news agencies cautioned against using it in editorial articles, suspecting digital manipulation.
Inconsistencies and Odd Details Reveal Photoshop Use
Upon closer examination, the royal photo exhibits several inconsistencies and peculiar details, suggesting the use of photo-editing software. Unnatural textures in Middleton’s hair, edges on the children’s sweaters, and a zipper on her jacket that leads nowhere are among the most noticeable signs of manipulation, particularly around Princess Charlotte’s hand.
Kate Middleton’s disappearing zipper is a sign that Photoshop may have been used to edit the image.
PHOTOGRAPH: PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES/INSTAGRAM
In a Monday post on the couple’s X account, Middleton acknowledged altering the photo, taken by Prince William, expressing:
apologies for any confusion the family photograph
However, she did not disclose the specific tools or methods used to edit the image, fueling further speculation among online sleuths. While some theorized that artificial intelligence generated the image or that Middleton’s face was lifted from an old Vogue cover, the most likely explanation is a poorly executed Photoshop job, as evident to regular users of the tool.
Experts Weigh In on Photoshop Blunders
WIRED design director Alyssa Walker suggests that the errors likely stem from the misuse of the stamp tool, which fuses parts of an image together by pulling from another area. When used carelessly, this tool can introduce errors like clothing edges appearing randomly cut off with poorly defined outlines.
Assistant photo editor Cameron Getty highlighted the peculiar zipper as a major red flag, stating:
I think this proves that it’s been altered. You just wouldn’t get that any other way.
Getty also pointed out an odd line across the image where Kate’s zipper vanishes, indicating that the image might be a composite of multiple photos.
A blurry patch near Princess Charlotte’s knee is another sign of possible image manipulation.
PHOTOGRAPH: PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES/INSTAGRAM
Other image analysis experts noted inconsistencies in the zipper and a blurry spot around Princess Charlotte’s knee that appears inconsistent with the background paving stones. The BBC’s analysis of the image’s metadata revealed that it had been saved twice in Photoshop on a Mac, although it remains unclear if both versions were saved on the same device.
Speculation Continues as Royal Couple Leaves Windsor Castle
Despite Middleton’s apology, both Walker and Getty find it highly unlikely that the princess edited the Mother’s Day photo herself using Adobe’s software. As Prince William and Princess Kate were photographed leaving Windsor Castle on the same day, a new wave of speculation has emerged regarding the legitimacy of those images as well.
1 Comment
Oh my, they really botched that one up, didn’t they? Talk about a royal mess!