Why DID the world's top picture agencies 'kill' Kate's Mother's Day photo? AP was first to withdraw portrait over claims it had been 'manipulated' before Reuters, AfP and Getty pulled the image 'in accordance with their editorial policies'

The world's top picture agencies last night took an extraordinary step to 'kill' a portrait of the Princess of Wales over claims it had been 'manipulated'.

Kensington Palace had attempted to reassure the public about Princess Kate's health by releasing a Mother's Day photo of her beaming alongside Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

It was the first official photo to be published of Kate since undergoing abdominal surgery in January.

But within hours of the photo being shared around the world, multiple picture agencies issued a 'kill notification' - an industry term used to retract a photo previously handed out to publications.

Late on Sunday, the Associated Press became the first agency to 'kill' the photo over an 'inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte's left hand'.

While AP said there was no suggestion the photo was fake, it retracted it because it said on closer inspection, the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet the agency's photo standards. 

Kensington Palace had attempted to reassure the public about Princess Kate's health by releasing a Mother's Day photo of her beaming alongside Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis

Five picture agencies around the world have taken the extraordinary step of killing the photo of Princess Kate

AP said its editorial standards state that images must be accurate and that it does not use altered or digitally manipulated images.

The agency's news values and principles explain that minor photo editing, including cropping and toning and colour adjustments, are acceptable when necessary for clear and accurate reproduction and should maintain the authentic nature of the photograph.

Changes in density, contrast, colour and saturation levels that substantially alter the original scene are not acceptable. Backgrounds should not be digitally blurred or eliminated by burning down or by aggressive toning. The removal of 'red eye' from photographs is not permissible.

When AP determined the photo appeared to have been manipulated, it issued what is known as a 'photo kill,' an industry term that retracted the image and instructed clients to remove the photo from their systems.

'At closer inspection it appears that the source has manipulated the image,' the AP said in its advisory. 'No replacement photo will be sent.'

A second agency, Reuters, also withdrew the image 'following a post-publication review'. 'We are reviewing the matter,' a spokesperson said.

Reuters picture editors said part of the sleeve of Kate's daughter's cardigan did not line up properly, suggesting that the image had been altered.

The agency could not immediately establish how, why or by whom the alteration had been made.

AfP then followed suit by issuing a 'mandatory kill notice' before Getty Images became the fourth agency to retract the photograph. EPA this morning also issued the same 'mandatory kill'.

A spokesman for AfP said: 'It has come to light that the Handout issued by Kensington Palace today of Kate and the kids had been altered, therefore it was withdrawn from AFP systems.'

A spokesperson for Getty Images told Sky News: 'Earlier today our picture desk identified a problematic image provided to Getty Images by Kensington Palace. We can confirm the image in question was removed from our site in accordance with our editorial policy.'

Readers on X added a community note to a post from the Prince and Princess of Wales' account which shared the photo. 

It appears Charlotte's hand was copied over from another picture as there is an empty space where her sleeve should be

Kate's zip appears to be misaligned on the photo as the top of it is further left and appears significantly lighter than the rest of the zip

Charlotte's hair seems to end abruptly on her shoulder on her right despite her hair on the left going on for a few inches

The corner of Charlotte's skirt was pointed out as another 'editing error' by social media sleuths

The Princess of Wales has not been seen since she attended the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham 

The Prince and Princess of Wales's annual Christmas card image with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, also appeared to have a Photoshop fail 

It said: 'This photo is believed to be digitally altered and as a result many major news outlets have pulled the image from their reports.'

Kensington Palace has not yet commented on the concerns raised about the picture.

But without an official response from the palace, the confusion around the image is likely to fuel online conspiracy theories about Kate which have swirled on the internet since her abdominal surgery.

Royal commentator Peter Hunt said: 'This is damaging for the royals.

'They knew there would be intense interest in any picture they released of Kate.

'Their challenge is that people will now question whether they can be trusted and believed when they next issue a health update.'

The picture shows Kate sitting in a chair with her arms around Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who are on either side of her, with Prince George standing behind, as all four smile at the camera.

But there was speculation that edits had been made to the left sleeve of Princess Charlotte's cardigan, and other areas of the picture also raised concerns about possible manipulation.

William has been stepping up royal engagements in Kate's absence. Pictured: Prince William and Princess Kate are seen at a  ceremonial welcome for The President and the First Lady of the Republic of Korea at Horse Guards Parade on November 21 last year

In the social media post, Kate thanked the public 'for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months'.

The photo of the princess is the first released since she was admitted to the London Clinic, the private hospital where the King underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate, for a planned operation on January 16.

Charles, 75, visited his daughter-in-law's bedside after being admitted himself on January 26, the 11th day of Kate's stay.

She was also visited by her husband, William.

Kate left the hospital on January 29, almost two weeks later, and returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor.

Details of the princess's condition have not been disclosed but Kensington Palace previously said it was not cancer-related and that Kate wished her personal medical information to remain private.

The 42-year-old future queen was last pictured in public during a Christmas Day walk in Sandringham, Norfolk.

Kate is not expected to return to official duties until after Easter, and William, 41, temporarily stepped back from his royal role to juggle caring for her and their children as she recovered.