I agree that putting out a manipulated photo was a stupid error which a royal press office should never have made.
However, this bloke can't be that great a 'global news director' if he doesn't understand intention and context. A mother clumsily editing a family photo to show herself and her children at their best, while going through an extremely difficult time, and under enormous pressure to 'show herself' to the baying public, is hardly evidence of deep state propaganda.
Not everything is some great Machiavellian plot.