A royal expert has said the public should have been kept more informed about the Princess of Wales’ condition after a recent image sparked an internet frenzy. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Express.co.uk two months is “too long” to wait for news, following her surgery in January.
His comments come after a bizarre incident involving the first officially released image of Kate Middleton with her children since she was admitted to hospital. The photo showed Kate smiling surrounded by her three children, George, Charlotte and Louis.
The image was shared to mark Mother’s Day on March 10. However, just hours after it was posted, picture agencies began recalling the photo citing concerns it had been “manipulated”.
Social media users were quick to spot a number of editing discrepancies, including one in which Princess Charlotte’s sleeve did not line up.
And today (March 11) a post to Kate’s official Instagram account claimed she had edited the image herself.
“Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,” it said.
“I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day. C.”
However, the original unedited photo has not been released.
Since this post Kate has been seen leaving Windsor Castle with her husband William.
Despite the multiple theories circulating online royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said the edits on the photo were likely just an “embarrassing” mistake.
But a lack of information from the firm has not helped the situation, he said.
Speaking to Express.co.uk , he said: “It must be an embarrassing mistake.
“It made the episode, since the happy image was meant to calm our fears about her health and since trolls were making bizarre claims on social media, somewhat farcical.
Her timely apology will be extremely helpful, but the Waleses public relations team must become more aware.
“Over two months is too long for us to wait for information about her condition, as she has been seriously ill and the vast majority who were concerned about her welfare wish her well.”
Kate was admitted to the London Clinic on January 16 for a planned abdominal surgery.
Almost two weeks later the 42-year-old was reported to have returned home. Kensington Palace said she was “doing well” at this time.
