An iconic photo of the late Queen Elizabeth II with her great grandchildren which was released on what would have been her 97th birthday has been claimed to be ‘digitally enhanced’, Getty Images picture agency say.
The photo was loved by royal fans across the world when it was released last year to mark the late monarch’s 97th birthday. It showed Queen Elizabeth II sitting down on a couch with her great grandchildren in the photo. It was released by Kensington Palace to celebrate her life to mark the special day, where she would have been 97. However, Getty Images has now confirmed the picture has been “digitally enhanced at source”, and wasn’t the original submitted via handout.
Queen’s photo with her great grandchildren under scrutiny
Over the past few weeks, the royals have seen their lives scrutinized and picked apart by conspiracy theories after Kate Middleton released a Photoshopped picture of her with her children.
The Prince and Princess of Wales posted a snap of Kate with their three children, Prince George, Louis and Princess Charlotte to mark UK’s Mother’s Day on March 10. However, within hours, editors had picked it apart and noticed several instances where it appeared the picture was edited.
Following speculation, Catherine posted an apology the following day admitting she dabbled in Photoshop as an amateur photographer.
She said: “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.”
This spurred further conspiracy theories about the 42-year-old who is currently recovering after undergoing planned abdominal surgery. Some fans believe the photo was taken four months ago, others are more concerned over the Princess’ health.
Now, Getty Images has confirmed the iconic photo released a year ago was ‘edited’.
It has placed an editor’s note on the photograph for publishers, explaining it has been enhanced.
The picture agency released a statement: “Getty Images can confirm that in accordance with its editorial policy it has placed an editor’s note on a handout image stating the image has been digitally enhanced at source.”
Today would have been Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s 97th birthday.
This photograph – showing her with some of her grandchildren and great grandchildren – was taken at Balmoral last summer.
📸 The Princess pic.twitter.com/1FOU4Ne5DX
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) April 21, 2023View Tweet
Celebrity Tidbit and GRV Media have approached Kensington and Buckingham Palace for comment.
Picture was taken weeks before monarch’s death
The photo of the Queen shows her posing with eight of her 12 great grandchildren and grandchildren, taken weeks before her death. Princess Kate snapped the photo in August 2022, with the monarch tragically passing away on September 8.
It was then released by Buckingham Palace on April 21 last year (2023), to mark what would have been the monarch’s 97th birthday.
However, since the news came out, fans on Twitter and social media have ben analyzing it further – like they did with Kate’s picture.
Some believe the pattern on the Queen’s skirt doesn’t align properly. Others claim Prince Louis doesn’t appear to be in the picture but was ‘copied in’ from another.
Reports claim black patches behind Prince George and Louis suggests it was edited.
Although it has been in the public eye for almost an entire year, Getty Images looked back at the photo of the Queen with her grandchildren to place the editor’s note on it.
In the snap, we see Elizabeth II with Prince William and Kate’s children – George, Charlotte and Louis. They are alongside royal cousins Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, and James, Earl of Wessex. There’s also Lena Tindal, Isla Phillips, Mia and Lucas Tindall and Savannah Philips.
We’re never going to see the real photo
Despite fans urging to see the ‘original’ and unedited version of Kate Middleton and her three children, we’re never going to see it.
Kensington Palace said it would not be issuing the original version despite Catherine apologizing.
It was reported the Princess was seen visiting the Windsor Farm Shop, around a mile from her Adelaide Cottage home over the weekend.
Onlookers claim she joined William and looked “happy, relaxed and healthy”.
It comes after sources from the Sussex camp claimed Meghan Markle is feeling ‘genuinely worried’ about Kate and reached out through the ‘back channels’
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