A veteran royal reporter says the controversy and conspiracy theories swirling around the admission by Catherine, Princess of Wales she had edited a family picture have become a “nightmare scenario” for the palace.
On Wednesday, The Daily Mirror’s Russell Myers appeared on Sunrise to discuss the fallout from Kate’s edited UK Mother’s Day photo, including the latest conspiracy theory that an old Vogue cover image was superimposed on her face.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Daily Mirror’s Russell Myers lashes the Vogue cover image conspiracy theory.
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Despite Kensington Palace hoping Kate’s apology would end the controversy, it has only intensified.
“The palace would have hoped that the statement from the Princess of Wales, her admission of guilt, over the editing of this photograph would have been the end of it,” Myers said.
“(But) the conspiracy theories have been raging for several days about Kate’s whereabouts. Then, of course, we’ve had all the discussion about the editing of this photograph … it’s a nightmare scenario for the palace.”
Myers went on to discuss the new claim put forward by conspiracy theorists that an old Vogue cover image was used for Kate’s face in the Mother’s Day photo.
“The Vogue theory is very interesting,” Myers said.
“Kate did this wonderful Vogue cover back in 2016 — she looked absolutely radiant — and some internet sleuths have sort of put the two photos together (to prove it’s the same one).”
However, Myers went on to rubbish the new theory.
“If you are literally getting two pictures of someone close together who is as photographed as Kate, then you’re pretty much going to get the same photograph,” Myers said.
“I think this is one for the conspiracy theory bin anyway.”
Despite the chat, Myers said the public generally felt sympathetic towards Kate as she was still recuperating following abdominal surgery in January.
The image, shared to Instagram for Mother’s Day in the UK, was meant to quell rumours over Kate’s health, given she had not been seen publicly for many weeks.
The image showed her beaming alongside her three children: Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.
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But major photo agencies such as Reuters and Getty issued a “kill notice” over the photo on Monday, claiming the picture had been “digitally manipulated” — which Princess Kate later admitted through a statement.
“Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,” the statement read.
“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.”
Royal commentator Emily Andrews appeared on Sunrise on Wednesday, saying the incident presented a “trust” issue for the royals.
“This has been one almighty disaster for Kensington Palace,” she said.
“I think what is at stake here is trust.
“If we can’t trust a picture they give us — then what then?” she added.