Surely this photograph is multiple pictures too?

[pineapplepepperoni]

I’ve always assumed this photo isn’t the ‘true’ picture but lots of the ‘good’ bits stitched together to make it more perfect. How come this was allowed? It seems a tad unfair that Catherine’s photo was made such a massive deal of when really it was just doing the exact same thing.

In the photo with the Queen the children aren't being required to be laughing. As long as they're looking at the camera, or not over their shoulders, that's ok. It's maybe easier to get a group of children just to do that and not more.

I mean unless you think the Queen was photoshopped in, during a time when we hadn't seen her for 3 months, it's not really the same thing is it?

It seems a tad unfair that Catherine’s photo was made such a massive deal of when really it was just doing the exact same thing.

It's not the same thing at all. The issue with the photo of Catherine and her children is whether it represents the truth in connection with a matter of public concern. The RF have no real power as such in the UK, but they do have governmental roles and their activities, including matters of their health, are legitimate concerns for the public. Yes, of course, Catherine is entitled to a measure of privacy concerning her health, but that measure has limits in a constitutional monarchy. She had no obligation to release anything, but what she did release needed to be accurate.

Worked on or not, tweaked or not, this is truly a charming photo.
I think it’s sad that these small children will grow up without knowing their incredible great-grandmother.

I think she made it perfectly well herself.

I think that's a very believable real picture. The four youngest children have a pretty neutral, maybe just slightly amused expression. It's very likely the photographer or an assistant was waving a puppet or toy around behind the camera. The girl furtherest right (sorry forgot name) is clearly looking at something off the frame.

Bear in mind the setup for a shoot like this was obviously done with the highest level of planning by industry professionals. For all we know they might even have hired someone dressed in a full body teddy bear suit to stand behind the camera.

That's what I believe will happen, and possibly a reason why the agencies are currently throwing their toys out the pram.

KP don't really need them, but the agencies do need the Royals.

As far as I can tell, all the criticism about the photo didn't point out any issues with Catherine's face - it was around the children.

(I'm ignoring the batshit conspiracy about the Vogue photo because it's so clearly obviously batshit).

So when Catherine turns up in public at Easter time looking pretty much as she did in THAT photo all the trolls will pivot to something different.

And this hyperbolic hysteria will be a footnote, as the Diana hysteria from 1997 is.

That's the speculation, but the metadata shows it was taken at Adelaide Cottage on the Friday, photoshopped twice over the weekend.

I agree it is a superb photo, capturing these beautiful children with their grandma/great grandma.

A professional photographer along with help from an assistant or various nannies would be quite able achieve. Have you ever seen a nursery/pre school annual group photo? Rounding up sheep and the photographer poised fir the perfect shot!

I wonder what generations the 89 million who’ve gone to look at their twitter post come from?

People don't only look at content about things they like or are in favour of though. Many anti-royalists are probably pretty keen to find out what's been going on, and whether it means increased unpopularity for the RF.

I don't think the picture of the Queen the OP included is photoshopped as it's not a particularly good composition. Lady Louse Windsor would have looked better if she had stood behind the Queen and the young gentleman next to her could have moved in a bit. Glad I'm not a photographer

The wee girl holding the handbag is so precious. It really is a beautiful moment captured of all of the them. The fact that it is both formal and also a little quirky adds to its charm. I'm not a huge royal fan but I can appreciate the beauty and the marking for prosperity. I don't believe this has been manipulated.

I would assume that all those people WERE in the room at the same time and the photographer's intention WAS to get a picture of the group that looked like this....the kill notice suggests the AP were doubtful this was the case with the Mother's Day photo...the silent insinuation being Catherine was the one being photoshopped/AI'd in....