This is how Kate Middleton edited her Mother's Day picture: Photoshop expert gives his verdict on THAT royal photo

A meticulous examination of the recent image featuring Kate Middleton with her children has revealed significant alterations made through photo-manipulation software.

While these changes raise eyebrows, a closer inspection of the image is necessary before jumping to conclusions.

Analysing the digital image's pixels, it becomes apparent that 26 areas have been noticeably altered, suggesting elements were added or removed from the original photograph.

The question arises: was Kate added to the image after the fact, possibly due to her absence during the photoshoot?

However, the possibility of a composite image constructed from similar shots taken at the time cannot be dismissed.

Kensington Palace yesterday released the first picture of the Princess of Wales since surgery

Kate also posted the apology on the Prince and Princess of Wales' Instagram account

James Middleton is an Adobe Photoshop expert who has been using software on a professional basis since 1996 and is a lecturer at several universities in Britain

Employing Error Level Analysis (ELA), a method to detect inconsistencies in image compression, focus, and textures, revealed no discernible differences, making it challenging to fabricate an image without leaving traces.

A close examination of the recent image featuring Kate Middleton and her children has uncovered intriguing anomalies, particularly centered around Kate's face and the children's hands, prompting speculation about the circumstances of the photoshoot.

The most notable alterations are concentrated around Kate's face, with evidence suggesting pixel swapping in this region.

The motive behind these changes remains unclear, leaving room for speculation. Additionally, attention is drawn to the children's hands, where noticeable discrepancies hint at possible fidgeting during the shoot.

Notably, both Charlotte and Louis appear to have their fingers crossed in the shots, possibly indicating playful behavior typical of children.

As a parent, I can't help but draw parallels to my own experiences of constantly battling with my sons' mischief during family photos.

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

Charlotte's hair seems to end abruptly on her shoulder (left) on her right despite her hair on the left going on for a few inches. The corner of Charlotte's skirt (right) was pointed out as another 'editing error' by social media sleuths

Furthermore, the image's focus appears inconsistent, with certain areas, such as Kate's right hand and portions of the children's clothing, appearing blurred or out of focus. 

This patchiness in focus adds another layer of peculiarity to the image, raising questions about the circumstances surrounding its capture.

While these observations raise eyebrows, it's essential to approach them with caution, as they may simply be quirks of the photoshoot rather than indications of malfeasance.

Nonetheless, they add an element of intrigue to an otherwise charming family portrait, inviting speculation and discussion among viewers.

Modern technologies like Google Pixel's 'Best take' feature, utilising AI to swap faces from a sequence of similar shots, could have been employed.

Yet, scrutiny of the image's metadata suggests characteristics inconsistent with mobile device photography, hinting at Adobe Photoshop's involvement in the editing process.

While some alterations in the image's metadata raise questions, it's plausible they were made for benign purposes, such as adjusting file size or colours.

Consequently, while acknowledging the alterations, it's premature to cry foul or allege a conspiracy.

In conclusion, the photograph presents intriguing questions about its authenticity. 

However, without concrete evidence of malfeasance, it remains a lovely portrayal of the royal family, and we wish the Princess of Wales a swift recovery.

James Middleton is an Adobe Photoshop expert who has been using software on a professional basis since 1996 and is a lecturer at several universities in Britain. He is not related to the Princess of Wales.