Kate Middleton has been 'thrown under a bus' by 'disgraceful' Kensington officials and 'ungentlemanly' Prince William - who let her take blame for Mother's Day photo blunder, Richard Eden tells Palace Confidential

The Princess of Wales has been 'thrown under a bus' - and her husband was 'ungentlemanly' by putting the 'onus' on her to take blame for the Mother's Day photo blunder - a royal expert has said.

The Daily Mail's Diary Editor Richard Eden told Palace Confidential that Kensington officials behaved 'disgracefully' after Kate Middleton shared a statement on social media, apologising 'for any confusion' the picture posted on Sunday caused. 

'I'm just so sad and sort of frustrated about the whole thing because I feel so sorry for Catherine,' he told Jo Elvin and Richard Kay.

'Essentially, she's been under so much pressure from people saying "we want a photo, we want to know how she is, tell us how she is", that sort of thing.

'And she finally issues this photograph, it's taken by Prince William - they make that clear when they issue the photograph.

The Daily Mail's Diary Editor Richard Eden (pictured) told Palace Confidential that Kensington officials behaved 'disgracefully'

'It's not some personal thing, it's issued by Kensington Palace communications people and then she has been thrown under a bus.'

Richard said that Kate was either made to, or agreed, to publish the personally signed statement. 

'I think it's disgraceful,' he continued. 'It's very ungentlemanly of Prince William to put the onus on her. For goodness sake, he's the one who took the photograph.

'And the officials made it public. They gave it out, it's their job. I think it's absolutely disgraceful that they've said to her "you go an explain what you did". No, it's your job.

'Take some responsibility.'

Richard also slammed the advisors around the Prince and Princess of Wales, saying that they needed 'good and strong' people in their vicinity.

'You don't want pathetic "yes men",' he said. 'Here they would definitely benefit from having stronger officials and it wouldn't surprise me if heads do roll over this, if not now... then eventually.'

However Richard Kay later in the show said that it would be unclear what the extent of the internal fallout is at this stage.

It comes as - in an astonishing move, the royal admitted on Monday that she 'edited' an image showing her celebrating Mothering Sunday with her children

However Richard Kay (right) later in the show said that it would be unclear what the extent of the internal fallout is at this stage

'Heads could roll, heads have rolled for lesser offences I've seen over the years,' he added.

'Poor unfortunate press officers have been given their marching orders, but it does seem a bit unfair to lay it all on the servants if you like.'

Richard Eden also expressed that he is not convinced that Kate was behind the photo editing blunder, and admitted the whole situation felt 'weird'. 

'I think on this occasion maybe instead of asking her husband they could've invited a photographer in,' he continued.

'I mean, it looks like perhaps someone's come to help do sort of hair and make-up and stuff... so maybe a hairdresser's come in, so one of the very talented photographers could've come in.'

It comes as - in an astonishing move, the royal admitted on Monday that she 'edited' an image showing her celebrating Mothering Sunday with her children.

The princess said in a rare personal message on X, formerly known as Twitter, that she 'occasionally experimented' as an 'amateur photographer'.

She apologised for any 'confusion' the photograph had caused, after six global picture agencies sensationally pulled the image from their wires and libraries – an unprecedented reaction to an official royal photograph – amid concern that 'the source has manipulated the image'.

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

The kill notices by the agencies added fuel to the fire as a litany of conspiracy theories continue to swirl about Kate's health.

There were questions over everything from why Princess Charlotte's wrist did not match the sleeve of her cardigan, to Prince Louis' strange fingers. 

 The photograph of Kate and her children, taken by Prince William at the family home in Windsor on Friday, was the first to be issued since her abdominal surgery in January.

Although the couple have regularly issued something personal to mark Mother's Day, it was hoped the picture might also quell vicious social media speculation about the nature of the princess's condition.

Instead, the royal blunder resulted in another public explosion of conspiracy theories.

Publicly taking the blame for the furore, the princess wrote: 'Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.

'I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused.

The row overshadowed Monday's Coronation Day service at Westminster Abbey, which was being led by Queen Camilla (left) for the first time – accompanied by Prince William (right) 

'I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother's Day. C.'

Kensington Palace said it would not reissue the unedited photograph of Kate and her children, which in itself sparked further debate.

Earlier this week, the Palace faced growing pressure over the debacle with claims it has damaged public trust. The row overshadowed Monday's Coronation Day service at Westminster Abbey, which was being led by Queen Camilla for the first time – accompanied by Prince William – in the King's absence as he undergoes cancer treatment. His Majesty recorded a video message for the first time instead.

Kate was, on the day, also seen in the back seat of a car with her husband as he left Windsor to travel to London for two public engagements. It is understood she was en route to a 'private appointment' and she did not accompany William publicly.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline her 'sudden appearance is not a dignified response' to what has occurred.

He said: 'When journalists have been saying they want to "see" Catherine, no one, as I understand it, meant in quite this way. A sudden appearance, which she has just made, is a knee jerk reaction which lacks what royals must have, that is dignity. 

The Princess of Wales has been 'thrown under a bus' after her husband was 'ungentlemanly' by putting the 'onus' on her to take blame for the Mother's Day photo blunder, Richard Eden said. The couple pictured in November

'This business has also overshadowed Commonwealth Day. There should never have been two and a half months where she seemed to disappear, we should, occasionally, have felt we were in touch whilst it was important she felt she had kept her privacy.

'William and Catherine are under tremendous pressure, which is particularly horrible if one has been seriously ill as she has. However, the mistake of editing the photograph, though extremely embarrassing, is not a major calamity. 

'What it shows is that she looks well again and that her children look very happy. However, their current handling of public relations is potentially perilous. 

'What the small but growing number of republicans want is to mock the monarchy. 

'Whilst Queen Elizabeth lived this was all but impossible. Ill-health and the crises affecting the Sussexes and Yorks have given them a good opportunity. The public relations at the Palaces needs to be responsive and disciplined which it clearly is not. William and Catherine are the world’s most glamorous and high profile royal couple. 

'They need dignity to continue to do good for their charities and project soft power like no one else can for Britain.

'They must put this embarrassing episode behind them and appear publicly confident. It will take time and common sense, kept in touch, the people will respond...'