AN WILSON: The Palace has given the conspiracy theories new life. But Kate and William are not to blame - the publicist who did not forsee photo-gate should be sacked

Who edited the controversial picture? It turns out it was amateur photographer Kate herself. In one sense, what a relief! In another, this is a good example of why the Prince and Princess of Wales desperately need better publicists and better advice about how to present themselves to the public.

When the major news and photographic agencies express concern about the authenticity of a seemingly harmless picture of the Princess of Wales and her children on Mothering Sunday, alarm bells inevitably ring. The Press is meticulously careful over such matters - a picture editor of a newspaper who manipulated an image would probably lose their job.

Yet technical reason for the news agencies’ concern appears so trivial that those of us who are not experts in news photography - and remember, the Royals are news - might consider it laughable. There was an apparent irregularity in one tiny part of Princess Charlotte’s sleeve.

There could be any number of reasons why a good photo-editor might have made such an adjustment. The little girl might have spilled some of her breakfast egg on the woollen sleeve. A shadow might have fallen across the group at an unfavourable angle.

The Princess of Wales is normally the one in the family who takes the photos, and on this occasion she had to leave the task to her husband who – whatever his other great merits – is not perhaps the world’s greatest photographer. Inevitably, she thought she could make a better job of the family picture, and set to work editing the image.

The news agencies spotted what she had done – with chaotic consequences.

The photo released by Kensington Palace yesterday of Kate and her children George, Charlotte and Louis. It was the first time the Princess of Wales had been seen following her surgery 

Kate issued a statement on X this morning saying she had edited the photo herself

The reaction of any decent, normal person would surely be: ‘Give Kate and her family a break! She has just come out of hospital.'

It was, after all, Mothering Sunday, and Kensington Palace have asked the Press to leave the family alone until after Easter.

A lot of wild speculation had been flying around. This photo was released in order to stop the rumours, and to make us believe that Kate is on the way to recovery, and the family are their usual bright, smiling selves.

But, because the whole incident was so badly handled, the release of the photo has had an effect which is the exact opposite of the one intended. It was meant to reassure us that all is well with the Princess of Wales and her family. Instead, we are in the position where the conspiracy theorists yet again are given their head.

Now that we have been told that the Princess herself edited the picture we must take her at her word. Kate is not to blame for having bravely tried to scotch the rumour-mongers by emerging from her convalescence for an amateur photo-shoot, and then trying to make the picture seem less amateur. We can’t really blame the Prince of Wales either for taking an amateur photograph. And the news and photo agencies are surely not to blame for calling attention to the edit and inconsistencies they noticed in the family snap.

No, the people to blame are the publicists who manage the Prince of Wales and his household. Why did they not forsee this row coming? Why did they not check and double check before issuing the image? After all, it is not the first time - the Waleses' Christmas card was criticised for a ‘Photoshop fail’ after someone spotted that one of Louis’ fingers apparently missing.

The Waleses Christmas card was criticised last year for a ‘Photoshop fail’ after someone spotted one of Louis’ fingers apparently missing

At the time, Palace sources insisted it was merely bent back, and maybe so. The point is that, whatever the case, publicity matters. It is of vital importance to the Royal Family.

There is nothing new in the royal wish to manipulate an image. The reason that the late Queen Mother, and her daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret, loved Cecil Beaton, a truly great photographer, is that he was prepared to ‘edit’ their photographs. He literally would take a scalpel to carve out the curves and make the homely figure of the Queen Mother look svelte. He air-brushed wrinkles and banished double chins.

But he was not only a good artist. He, and they, were expert in publicity, letting the public see the images which the Royal family themselves wanted to be released.

That’s in a way what Kate tried to do. But the point is, we live in different times where the Royals are concerned. Her publicists should have realised that in today’s cynical world, and in the febrile atmosphere surrounding the Waleses, the tiniest thing – the adjustment of a little girl’s woollen sleeve – can make people apoplectic with excitement.

The Waleses should sack whoever was responsible in their publicity department - and think twice before Kate next tries to edit one of her husband’s well-meant but hopeless family snaps.