Lovely new photo of Catherine and the children has been released

[BirthdayRainbow]

I know there will still be people saying it proves nothing, it was taken pre op but why not just enjoy the photo..

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68526972

I couldn't care less really but I do quite like seeing the RF completely fuck things up and then refuse to say anything so it becomes an even bigger fuck up.

I haven’t read all the thread, so apologies if repetition, but my thoughts are:

• People are assuming this is a recent photo taken post surgery but I don’t think this was ever suggested? Rather just a photo they have of Kate & the kids for Mother’s Day? Prob taken last autumn, hence the trees etc.
• Some smartphones can do the ‘best choice/photo merging’ for you automatically these days - you take say six photos then choose the ‘best’ version of each face then ‘merge’ into a combined photo which avoids the perennial ‘Aunty Madge’ has her eyes closed problem.

I agree it’s clumsy and poor quality for the RF, but I think the social media vultures have gone into overdrive ‘seeing’ things which aren’t an issue e.g. lots of people describing the tassel on Charlottes who’s as a different heel etc.

In spite of all the speculation, I wish Catherine all the best.

My feelings exactly. Assuming Kate is recovering fine and that’s actually her smiling head – as I wish an ill woman no ill – this is all GREAT royal gossip. They needed a shakeup; it’s been years since Megxit, time for new shenanigans. That’s their true rule: not heads of state or hosts of ceremonies or whatever, but comedy.

@Legacy - No, KP explicitly stated it was a photo taken by William last week.

Except the “stitching” is where the zip on her coat doesn’t line up perfectly - which is exactly what happens if you use Google pixel “Best Take” software, or similar. As shown here by someone who has played with the image. So not necessarily sinister - possibly just a different take of Kate from the same sitting was used in the picture

Then they are going to have to let us know it's his phone

I really feel for those kids. I have a ds the same age as George. Imagine having to go to school this morning.

If this was an attempt to protect the kids from media interest it has spectacularly backfired. Half the world will be analysing the alignment of their fingers and wrists.

Nah: never complain, never explain. Let the internet content machine rumble on; it’ll find new fodder soon.

This is a big mess. The only one I feel bad in this situation is Kate. I hope all this fuss is not causing her stress and affecting her recovery

There's plenty of blame to go around:

-People and the media for their mass hysteria: While I do agree that KP are incompetent at PR, they did say in 2 statements that Kate would be back at Easter. I still don't understand the mass hysteria. Why couldn't people just wait until Easter? The media have clearly been pressuring KP into releasing more information. I just don't get it. Kate has taken long breaks in the past. No one made a fuss about her "disappearing" then and she was fully healthy

-KP: While the people's reactions have been over the top, the way KP dealt with his is an absolute disaster. At this point, I'm even starting to believe that a few of their staff members are anti monarchists working against them lol.

I believe this is all about William trying to control the narrative and caving to the social trolls. I agree that some of the conspiracy theories were horrible but he should've just let it go. Also, had William been more professional, it would've probably made a difference. He's never been a workhorse but the fact that he also barely worked and carrying out engagements during this period only fuelled the conspiracies.

About the photo, I'm no starting to believe the photo of the woman in the car was actually really Kate. She's probably getting better but still looks sickly and we know how Kate has always had that perfect image. The girl is not allowed to have flaws. They probably used an AI program or something like that to edit all the imperfections and it backfired.

To me, this is just a mix of crazy public hysteria and horrible PR from KP.

But, congratulations William and KP for completely overshadowing the Commonwealth day. All eyes are going to be on William. Let's just hope he doesn't cancel at the last minute

All that money and they can't get it right .
And it's not poor Kate .Major surgery with no waiting around and referral cock ups ,recovering in the lap of luxury with no need to run a household ,look after kids ,get back to work to bring money in .
She's had years to become accustomed to guarding her privacy .
Zero sympathy from me .

That would be a good theory were it not for the fact that her head is clearly out of proportion to the body

This is the question I want to know (but probably won’t get an answer to, annoyingly!).

The picture was released via the Prince and Princess of Wales’ social media accounts, we know that. But, behind the scenes, did the KP press team also release it to the picture agencies for use? If so, this is all KP’s cock up, I would think.

Or did the agencies simply swipe the photo from the Wales’ social media and put it on their sites so they could monetise it? And later decide they needed to kill it? If so, it’s on them.

It still means they issued a manipulated image, no matter what channel was used.

It probably was just a result of a poor photographer and trying to get everyone with their eyes open 🤣 but then they should just say that.

I'm so tired of the mass hysteria...KP says she'd be back after Easter, they said it twice ages ago and yet people still speculate and pry.

We all know how hard it is to get a family photo where everyone's eyes are open at the same time! Especially kids! It's unsurprising they've tweaked it.

There are plenty of things to worry about in this world....the royal conspiracy theorists really need to get a life.

Ah ok, I didn’t see that. Yes, can see why all the speculation then.

More likely it's a ploy by the Tories to bury bad news.

It's them that put the picture out while she was still "family only" though. They (their advisers) should have known it would get this kind of scrutiny and either had it done properly or not put anything out until she's back on duty.

I think it's the incompetence of the whole thing that's most surprising.

I just saw this being reported as the main news story on the BBC 🙄 It seems clear that this is simply down to photo correcting software. Thats not enough of a story though, no click bait in the simplest and most likely explanation, so the media are, as has become habit, pandering to the online hysteria and its increasingly rabid adherents.
If you're engaging in this ridiculous speculation, you need a step back from social media. Your mental wellbeing will thank you in the long run!

I like a conspiracy as much as the next person and don't think there's anything wrong with speculating about the RF.

However I am wondering: considering the Palace told us she would be off until Easter, what's the reasoning for being worried now?

Yes this too! It’s a wonderful distraction from the failing NHS, social care, homelessness and child poverty.

It’s really, really not that hard to get a 5 year old, an 8 year old, a 10 year old and a 42 year old to keep their eyes open for a photo, especially not ones who exist to have their photo taken for publishing in the press. It isn’t like you and your family taking a picture squinting into the sun in your auntie’s garden or whatever. It is highly surprising that it’s been ‘tweaked’ to the extent that three agencies have killed it, especially in the context in which they released it. That’s why it’s headline news.

Where’s the thread, William and Kate were lying (and editing) from the start, weren’t they? 😂

It still means they issued a manipulated image, no matter what channel was used.

Yes, but pretty much everyone touches up photos released on instagram etc, that’s not a problem. It is the representation as a wholly accurate image on a news picture site that is the issue.

Here’s Queen Alexandra retouching her official Coronation photos in 1902, for example!