Kate Middleton's passion for photography has seen her capture some of the most touching photos of the royals in recent decades

The Princess of Wales is likely to want to quickly forget this week's adventures in photography - after six global picture agencies withdrew the family's official Mother's Day photo over fears it had been 'manipulated'

The released image, which bears several signs of editing, including part of Princess Charlotte's sleeve being missing, was, it emerged today, taken by Prince William on Friday before Kate edited it twice in Photoshop to 'make it the best it can be'. 

The touching family photo, the first picture of the Princess of Wales, 42, to appear since her abdominal surgery earlier in the year, which Kate is still recovering from at the family's home at Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor estate, sparked a swift apology from Kensington Palace earlier this week.  

On Sunday, Kensington Palace released the first picture of the Princess of Wales since surgery - but six global picture agencies withdrew the family's official Mother's Day photo over fears it had been 'manipulated'

Amid the ensuing furore, the Princess issued a statement on Twitter and Instagram admitting she 'edited' the image - adding that she does 'occasionally experiment' as an 'amateur photographer' and apologising for 'any confusion' the image caused.

However, the royal hobbyist can be forgiven for the photographic blip, for her previous skill behind the camera has gifted insight that many professional snappers have struggled to capture - with her family her biggest muse.   

Here FEMAIL looks at some of the many photographs of the royals the Princess has released over the years, including touching photos of Prince William with his father and the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip with their great grandchildren... 

PRINCE GEORGE 

The Prince and Princess of Wales' eldest son, now ten, is more than used to posing for his mum, with snaps of the heir-to-the-throne appearing regularly - and marking milestones such as his first day at nursery in Norfolk, and supporting the England squad in a team shirt in 2019.  

On his seventh birthday, two photographs were released, taken in July 2020 during lockdown - at their then Norfolk home, Anmer Hall. 

His eighth birthday also saw him photographed at Amner Hall and showed the future king perched on the bonnet of a Land Rover Defender.

Prince George turned nine in 2022, and his mother was behind the camera once more. The young royal posed in a polo-style top with a sandy shoreline and water behind him in his birthday snap. 

2016: Prince George dressed in a navy quilted jacket and light blue rucksack grinned as he made his way into Westacre Montessori School near the family home, Anmer Hall in Norfolk

Little lion! Prince George captured by Kate in an England football shirt to mark his sixth birthday in 2019

Seven! Prince George pictured celebrating his seventh birthday during lockdown in 2021

A second image taken in 2020 showed the heir-to-the-throne beaming at his mother the Duchess of Cambridge behind the camera as she snaps a shot 

Kate behind the camera: The royal has taken several photos of her eldest son and released them as official birthday images, including the young royal looking tousle-haired and laughing on his eighth birthday in 2021 and, pictured on a beach at the age of nine in July 2022

PRINCESS CHARLOTTE 

The middle child of Kate and William has also been an adorable subject for her mum's favourite hobby. An early photo of Princess Charlotte, who turns nine in May, sees her being cradled by her older brother George. 

Other highlights include a second birthday photo of her wearing a snuggly lemon cardigan, and holding the family dog for a portrait to mark her seventh birthday. 

2015: An early photo of Prince George and his new sister Princess Charlotte, taken by the then Duchess at Anmer Hall in Norfolk. Right: Princess Charlotte pictured at Anmer Hall in November 2015

Strolling along! Princess Charlotte pushing wooden blocks in a trolley in an image published on ay 1st 2016

When Princess Charlotte celebrated her second birthday on Tuesday May 2, 2017, an image of the young royal wearing an adorable yellow cardigan with sheep on it was released by William and Kate

2018: Princess Charlotte, in smart red attire, taken by her mother at Kensington Palace shortly before the princess left for her first day of nursery at the Willcocks Nursery School

The big four! Princess Charlotte captured in May 2019 as the family celebrated her fourth birthday

Five and six: Previous photos taken by the then Duchess of Cambridge Princess Charlotte's fifth and six birthdays in May 2020 and May 2021

This image of Princess Charlotte, taken at the Wales' Norfolk home Anmer Hall, was shared to mark the youngster turning seven in 2022

Great being eight: Charlotte looking ever more grown up in this photo taken by her mother to mark her eighth birthday last year

PRINCE LOUIS  

The youngest of the Wales siblings, little Prince Louis, who turns six in April, looks considerably more grown up in the Mother's Day photos released this week.

The schoolboy has been seen in a variety of photos since he was born in 2018; first pictures snapped by Kate show him as a red-cheeked bouncing baby, with one photo showing him in the arms of his big sister Princess Charlotte.   

More recently, Prince Louis has been photographed cycling to nursery on his bicycle - and in group family photos with dad Prince William.  

In 2018, a rosy-cheeked Prince Louis was revealed to the world, and just days later another shot showing Princess Charlotte kissing her new brother was released

Two-front teeth! Little Louis pictured in 2018 - in a variety of knitwear - to celebrate his first birthday. The cute pictures were taken in Norfolk at Amner Hall

Prince Louis - with techincolour hands - pictured a year on at nursery on his second birthday

Louis cycling into his first day of nursery at the Willcocks Nursery School on April 21, 2021

FAMILY PORTRAITS 

This image, released in December 2020 saw Kate behind the camera once again, this time snapping her brood on a swing; the image was taken during the summer months that year

The intimate family portraits saw the Prince and his three children rolling around on the grass. For Father's Day 2020, William released a picture of the children clambering on his back on the grass

KING CHARLES AND QUEEN CAMILLA

Kate's father-in-law, the King, and Queen Camilla have also featured in some of the photographs the Princess of Wales has chosen to make public over the years.

In 2018, Kate captured an image to mark both Father's day and the 38th birthday of the then Duke of Cambridge. The father-and-son photo sees William with his arm protectively around his father, with both royals laughing warmly at the camera. 

A black-and-white photo of the King, then the Prince of Wales, taken with Prince Louis as he turned two, offered rare insight into the close bond the monarch has with his grandchildren to Kate and William. 

And Queen Camilla has also acknowledged Kate's skills with a camera in hand, asking the then Duchess of Cambridge to photograph her to mark her 75th birthday.

The Queen is seen in the summertime shot with a basket of cut flowers, wearing a pretty blue dress.  

Father and son: This 2018 snap was released to mark both Father's day and the 38th birthday of the then Duke of Cambridge

Clarence House wished Prince Louis a happy second birthday with this photo showing hugs from his grandfather

In July 2022, Queen Camilla, then the Duchess of Cornwall, asked Kate Middleton to photograph to mark her 75th birthday and Country Life magazine's 125th anniversary

QUEEN ELIZABETH AND PRINCE PHILIP  

Kensington Palace published an unseen photograph of Queen Elizabeth II on what would have been the late monarch's 97th birthday in 2023.

The previously unseen picture of the monarch was captured by the Princess of Wales at Balmoral in August 2022 - weeks before her death on September 8th. 

Happy in the Scottish Highlands she so loved, Her Majesty is surrounded by some of her adored grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Several years earlier, Kate had also photographed the late Queen and Prince Philip with their great-grandchildren at Balmoral in 2018.

The Queen in her element with her grandchildren in August 2022. Pictured alongside Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II are: Top row (L-R): Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, James, Earl of Wessex. Middle row (L-R): Lena Tindall, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Isla Phillips, Prince Louis. Bottom row (L-R): Mia Tindall, Lucas Tindall, Savannah Phillips.

Some of Kate's most intimate portraits are those taken of the late Queen and Prince Philip, including this photo of them at Balmoral with their great-grandchildren in 2018. Pictured from left to right Prince George, Prince Louis being held by Queen Elizabeth II, Savannah Phillips (standing at rear), Princess Charlotte, the Duke of Edinburgh, Isla Phillips holding Lena Tindall, and Mia Tindall

Prince Philip pictured with Mia Tindall in a photograph taken by the Princess of Wales

Hitching a ride with great grandpa! A younger Prince George with the late Prince Philip