The controversy surrounding a digitally altered Mother’s Day photograph featuring Princess Kate and her children has escalated, drawing Prince Harry into the fray, following critical remarks from Omid Scobie, the biographer known for his work on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Scobie took to social media to voice his concerns over the incident involving the Prince and Princess of Wales, specifically the photograph taken by Prince William at Adelaide Cottage. This image, showcasing Kate alongside Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, came under scrutiny for its digital modifications, eventually leading to its retraction by multiple photo agencies after the alterations were noted by eagle-eyed fans, reported GB News.
Princess Kate, aged 42, has since accepted responsibility for the edits made to the photograph. Scobie, leveraging this event, criticized the Royal Family’s handling of public relations, particularly about Prince Harry’s experiences as depicted in the Netflix documentary series “Harry & Meghan.”
She wrote on X: “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.”
Scobie, who is known to have links to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, took to social media platform X to bring the Duke of Sussex into the photo scandal debate.
He wrote: “It’s fair to say that most photos released by the offices of public figures have been retouched in some way, so *if* this was an isolated incident then it would just be an unfortunate error.
Within this series, Prince Harry disclosed instances where statements were released by the Palace without his consent, highlighting a particular occasion where a joint statement was issued to refute claims of familial discord, allegedly without Harry’s prior approval.
This statement aimed to dispel rumors concerning the strained relationship between Prince Harry and Prince William, emphasizing their commitment to mental health issues and condemning the speculative and inflammatory media coverage.
“But with the Palace’s long history of lying, covering up, and even issuing statements on behalf of family members without their permission (cc: Prince Harry), it’s becoming increasingly difficult for the public to believe a word (and now photo) they share.
“Gaining that back at this point is an almost impossible task.” In his Netflix series Harry & Meghan, the Duke of Sussex claimed the Palace issued statements without his knowledge.
Harry said that after a meeting with his brother, father, and Queen Elizabeth II, in which they discussed the terms of his move away from royal duties, he was “told about a joint statement that had been put out in my name and my brother’s name squashing the story about him bullying us out of the family”.
However, Prince Harry, in the documentary, expressed his disillusionment with the Royal Family’s approach, feeling a divide had been created between him and his brother, with the latter aligning with the institution’s narrative.
Harry’s recounting of these events portrays a narrative of isolation and lack of support from the Royal Family, culminating in Meghan’s emotional response to the Palace’s willingness to counteract stories concerning Prince William while allegedly neglecting to defend her and Harry against false accusations.
This unfolding drama surrounding the altered photo and Prince Harry’s related revelations underscores the ongoing tensions within the Royal Family and their complex relationship with the media and public perception.