Kate, Princess of Wales, apologized Monday for 含羞草研究社渃onfusion含羞草研究社� released by the palace 含羞草研究社� an image of Kate and her children that was intended to calm concern and speculation about the British royal含羞草研究社檚 health, but had the opposite effect.

Several news agencies that initially published the photo, including , withdrew the image over concerns about digital manipulation. Issued by the couple含羞草研究社檚 Kensington Palace office on Sunday to mark Mother含羞草研究社檚 Day in Britain, it was the first official photo of Kate since she had nearly two months ago.

The retractions sent the online rumor mill, already rampant over Kate含羞草研究社檚 operation and recuperation, into overdrive.

In a post on social media, Kate said that 含羞草研究社渓ike many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淚 wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused,含羞草研究社� the post said.

In the past, the palace has issued several of Kate含羞草研究社檚 family snapshots featuring her and Prince William with their children Prince George, 10; Princess Charlotte, 8; and Prince Louis, 5.

The latest photo was taken by William, Kensington Palace said. In an accompanying message posted on social media, Kate said: 含羞草研究社淭hank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mother含羞草研究社檚 Day.含羞草研究社�

While there was no suggestion the photo was fake, AP retracted it because closer inspection revealed the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet AP含羞草研究社檚 photo standards. For instance, the image shows an inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte含羞草研究社檚 left hand.

Other major news agencies, including Getty, Reuters and AFP, did the same on Sunday.

Shortly before Kate含羞草研究社檚 statement was issued on Monday, Britain含羞草研究社檚 national news agency said it was following suit. PA said it had asked Kensington Palace for clarification about the image and 含羞草研究社渋n the absence of that clarification, we are killing the image from our picture service.含羞草研究社�

Kensington Palace said it would not release the original unedited photograph. And while Kate含羞草研究社檚 statement provided a measure of clarification, it looked unlikely to stop the swirl of rumor that has accelerated during her absence from public duties.

Former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said the mishandled photo release 含羞草研究社渋s damaging for the royals.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淭hey knew there would be intense interest in any picture they released of Kate,含羞草研究社� he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. 含羞草研究社淭heir challenge is that people will now question whether they can be trusted and believed when they next issue a health update.含羞草研究社�

The royal family is under particular scrutiny because has also had to cancel public duties while he undergoes treatment for an unspecified form of cancer. The monarch has canceled all his public engagements, though he has been photographed walking to church and meeting privately with government officials and dignitaries.

Charles含羞草研究社� relative openness about his diagnosis was a departure for the generally secretive royal family. But it has been eclipsed in popular interest by curiosity over Kate含羞草研究社檚 condition. In the absence of firm information, conspiracy theories have rushed to fill the vacuum.

The release of the photo followed weeks of gossip on social media about what had happened to Kate since she left a hospital Jan. 29 after a nearly two-week stay following planned surgery. She hadn含羞草研究社檛 been seen publicly since Christmas Day.

Kate, 42, underwent surgery Jan. 16 and her condition and the reason for the operation have not been revealed, though Kensington Palace said it was not cancer-related.

Although the palace initially said that it would only provide significant updates and that she would not return to royal duties before Easter 含羞草研究社� March 31 this year 含羞草研究社� it followed up with a statement last month by saying she was doing well and reiterating its previous statement.

含羞草研究社淜ensington Palace made it clear in January the timelines of the princess含羞草研究社� recovery and we含羞草研究社檇 only be providing significant updates,含羞草研究社� the palace said Feb. 29. 含羞草研究社淭hat guidance stands.含羞草研究社�

At the time, royal aides told The Sun newspaper: 含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檝e seen the madness of social media and that is not going to change our strategy. There has been much on social media but the princess has a right to privacy and asks the public to respect that.含羞草研究社�

Further questions were raised last week when the British military seemed to jump the gun in announcing Kate would attend a ceremony in June, apparently without consulting palace officials.

It含羞草研究社檚 up to palace officials, not government departments, to announce the royals含羞草研究社� attendance at events. Kensington Palace didn含羞草研究社檛 confirm any scheduled public events for Kate, and the army later removed reference to her attendance.

Veteran public relations consultant Mark Borkowski said the photo gaffe exposed a wider PR problem for the monarchy.

含羞草研究社淭here doesn含羞草研究社檛 seem to be that much joined-up strategic thinking at the heart of the royal family at the moment, which leads to these problems where it含羞草研究社檚 a very difficult organization to manage in terms of PR,含羞草研究社� he said.

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