After speculation arose regarding potential manipulation of her family’s Mother’s Day portrait, Princess Kate Middleton issued a public statement addressing the matter.
In a post shared via the official Prince and Princess of Wales account on Monday, March 11, Middleton acknowledged that, like many amateur photographers, she occasionally experiments with editing.
She expressed apologies for any confusion caused by the family photograph shared the previous day and extended wishes for a happy Mother’s Day to all celebrating.
The message was signed with a “C” for Catherine.
Middleton’s statement followed reports that several news outlets were instructed to remove the Mother’s Day photo shared by Prince William and herself on Sunday, March 10. The portrait depicted Middleton, 42, with her and William’s three children: Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.
The upload marked the royals’ first Mother’s Day since Middleton’s abdominal surgery in January. The caption expressed gratitude for well wishes and support during the preceding two months, wishing everyone a happy Mother’s Day.
The photo, reportedly taken by William earlier that year, notably showed Middleton without her wedding ring.
Following the online sharing of the portrait, it was reported that several international news agencies, including the Associated Press, declined to distribute it, citing concerns of image manipulation.
Royal reporter Omid Scobie shared a screenshot of a notice instructing the AP to “kill” the image and remove it from all platforms. At the time, Kensington Palace did not provide a comment.
Speculation had circulated regarding Middleton’s whereabouts since her surgery. Announced on January 17 as “successful,” the procedure required her to remain in the hospital for “10 to 14 days,” with subsequent recovery at home. Kensington Palace indicated she was unlikely to resume public duties until after Easter, falling on March 31.
The statement from the palace emphasized Middleton’s desire for privacy regarding her medical information, stating she wished to maintain normality for her children. No further details regarding the surgery’s nature have been disclosed.
Prior to her surgery, Middleton had not been seen since December 2023. Despite online speculation about her well-being, her representatives reiterated Kensington Palace’s previous statements regarding the timeline of her recovery.
Similarly, William’s representatives addressed inquiries about his wife’s health, emphasizing his focus on work rather than social media.