Princess Catherine’s absence from the public eye following her abdominal surgery has led to a media frenzy, with many questioning when the Princess of Wales will reappear.
Now, an altered Mother’s Day photo shared by the Princess of Wales has led to further speculation about her well-being, with many claiming the photo has negatively affected the royal family’s branding.
Kate Middleton Mother’s Day Post
On Mother’s Day in Britain, Princess Catherine posted a loving photo of herself alongside her three children to social media.
After the post was shared, many social media users called out the Princess of Wales, claiming the photo had been generated with artificial intelligence or heavily edited.
First Photo Since the Surgery
The photo was the first shared since Catherine’s surgery in January. It shows the Princess of Wales beside her and William’s three children, George, Charlotte, and Louis.
Some of the largest news media agencies, including Reuters and The Associated Press, were forced to remove the photo from distribution after they realized it had been altered, violating their strict standards, per CBS News.
The Photo Was Manipulated
The Associated Press released a statement about their decision to remove the photo from distribution.
“Because at closer inspection, it appeared the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet AP’s photo standards. The photo shows an inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte’s left hand,” the agency wrote.
Social Media Goes Wild for the Photo
Social media users, Reddit posters, and many on TikTok quickly suggested that the image was made via Photoshop or AI
A telltale sign of the photo’s manipulation is the unusual blurring apparent around Charlotte’s sleeves. Others noted edits on the children’s hands and hair.
Kate Middleton Likely Used Photo Editing Software
While many speculated AI was used, Hany Farid, a professor at Berkeley University in California, suggests it was most likely altered using a photo-editing app.
“I think it is unlikely that this is anything more than a relatively minor photo manipulation,” he told NBC News. “There is no evidence that this image is entirely AI-generated.”
Princess of Wales Forced to Issue Apology
While no official statement was made in the days following the accusations, eventually, Princess Catherine confirmed the photo was doctored and issued an apology.
CNN reported that the Princess of Wales apologized for “any confusion” that arose during her “experiment” with photo editing software.
Image Editing Destroying the Royal Family’s Branding
Whether the image was initially made using AI or simply Photoshopped, the drama surrounding the photo has undoubtedly affected the royal family’s branding.
As Catherine’s brief apology failed to answer any questions behind the unusual Mother’s Day post, speculations remain high on the princess’ current well-being.
Royal Image Weakened with Editing Mistake
“The growing sophistication of AI means these fabricated images are becoming increasingly indistinguishable from the truth,” said Georgia O’Brien-Perry, who works for the U.K.-based Bulldog Digital Media, during an interview with Fortune.
While the public expects the royal family to edit their photos, using AI to create an artificial image may result in a loss of trust among the British public.
No One Knows What to Believe Anymore
“Manipulating images isn’t a novel concept, and to this day, images will be airbrushed to remove ‘imperfections,’ or add in things that aren’t there — but AI technology has added a new, insidious layer to image manipulation that could destroy careers,” said O’Brien-Perry.
“When a photo of someone as high-profile as Kate Middleton gets accused of AI forgery, it calls to question how we know what to believe anymore.”
A Dystopian Future
According to Jonathon Narvey, CEO and founder of Mind Meld PR, the drama surrounding Catherine’s altered image “is just the new reality, thanks to AI.”
“Media outlets will have to get used to receiving and accepting AI-generated images for breaking stories and famous people. Not ideal, for sure — and clearly dystopian.”
Royal Family Aims to Keep the Trust of the British Public
Should the royal family want to keep its credibility during periods of uncertainty, it will undoubtedly have to refrain from creating images using AI.
With King Charles’ cancer diagnosis and Catherine’s disappearance from the public eye, the last thing the royal family wants is further unwanted media attention.
