BREAKING NEWS HRH Kate & William seen today

[DistinguishedSocialCommentator]

Now please stop the silly rumours

I wish HRH Kate a speedy recovery

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13183233/Kate-leaving-Windsor-Castle-Prince-William-Westminster-Abbey.html

I was going to say the same. I'm not particularly on either "team". Partly because I'm a grown up, partly because I think they both have elements of right and wrong on their side, and partly because my overarching view (aside from enjoying the frippery) is that I find the notion of a royal family and constitutional monarchy anachronistic.

Tbh I'm obvs more for W&K but in this situation I'd say the same for Harry. Unless malicious intent, say as someone did ridiculously suggest photoshopping Putin in, then I really can't get the dramatic 'kill it!!' response to a family snap.

The news agencies must surely have someone with a bit of common sense as well as experts in cuffs and fingers?

Anyway, I hope Kate continues to shrug off the hysteria. Bet that's that the last time we see a picture from her. We'll done Gettys!

My point is nothing will change

People spend time posting and an image isn’t going to disrupt anything

If you distrust you already do. KM and co will be fine

Yes, well said, same here, and totally agree 👏

@Janiie "Oh I missed the official event they were attending in the back garden with their everyday clothes on."

It was an image intended to make a statement and go around the world. Which is why according to the rules of the picture agencies it had to be accurate. Filters and a bit of a touch up fine. An undateable composite image- not fine.

Incidentally, for the avoidance of doubt, I M not for or against anyone. I am against the institution of the monarchy. And I am for honesty.

This post reveals a strong ignorance of media ethics. It's not just Getty, all reputable image agencies have rejected it.

And yes, if the RF are going to distribute fake images, it's better that they distribute nothing at all.

I’m anti-monarchy, pro-democracy, but also 99% here for a brain-numbing combo of lols and fights.

Plus 1.

I’ve got to get back to work, but I’ve just pinched this from another thread:

Private Eye, new issue out today, choses this story as its cover and the lead article. Private Eye reports that Buckingham Palace is very upset about KP's "clumsy effort to close down speculation on Kate's health" (ie with the doctored photo".

And adds a slightly alarming piece of new info:

""William's court is far more secretive [than Buck Palace]. Believeing that one very staged photo will appease the people is old-style royalty that doesn't work now. Even if the veracity of the photo weren't queried, it wouldn't stop the rumour mill for long these days. The prospect, long touted, of a new-style monarchy under William seems like a mirage. Hosts on his rare public engagements are asked not to mention Kate. And the truth is that no one except a close circle - and one lucky paparazzo - has since Kate since she left hospital, so the true state of her health remains a mystery."

@Janiie "The news agencies must surely have someone with a bit of common sense as well as experts in cuffs and fingers?"

They do. That's why photoshopping is fine.

This picture could not be dated. So was not acceptable as news-the agencies deal in news. How hard is this to understand?

That was meee I brought that bit of info to the yard :-)

Well they’ve answered their own question there. They are the reason it’s the case. They are dying to print anything to uncover the ‘mystery’

Er no, I wasn't implying that whatsoever and it's really very odd you took that from my post

They haven’t asked a question?

I didn't think it was issued to stop speculation, I thought it was issued because she normally does that for Mother's Day. Either way I can't see the big issue, OMG someone had wrinkled tights or flashing the V so the hand had to be changed. Big deal.

The reason they can’t get the info is because they are dying to use whatever is going on for click bait

It’s better that they can’t

Good work and thanks! 🏆

Your ignorance of media ethics is astonishing.

@Iwasafool "OMG someone had wrinkled tights or flashing the V so the hand had to be changed. Big deal."

It's not about minor photoshopping. It's about........oh, I give up.

In those circs you need professional media teams to issue comms to circumvent precisely that. What this inept team has done is let a minor story explode into a debacle.

I heard some commentator saying that the photo H&M released when she was pregnant, black and white photo of them in the garden, I think they were lying on the grass, had been photoshopped. They said the big tree in the background doesn't exist. Even if that is true does it matter?

Erm. You...don't know much about Private Eye, do you?

Its storied history, its unique position within UK media?

Paul Foot Award...?

Shurely shome mishtake.

I suppose the point there is that the tree wasn’t the story, the story was: Meghan is pregnant. The photo showed her pregnant. So, no relevant lie involved whether they shopped in a tree or enchanted bluebirds circling her bump. With the family photo, the story was: here’s Kate healthy and happy with her family, in the past week. But we don’t know if it’s true, and the photoshopping suggests it might not be.

Generally I do think veracity matters, and authenticity of news photography matters (even if “royal family members have babies” stretches the definition of news a bit), but I’d care less about prettifying a true shot of a true event by adding a tree than I do about creating a composite shot to hide someone’s health or presence.

What they had was fine she’s off until Easter etc imo the initial car pic was not part of what was meant to happen

A bit like when someone posts should I go postal over a WhatsApp unflattering image and everyone talks them
down

It similar situation but just global reaction to the Mother’s Day better photo saga