Kate's Mother's Day picture taken in 40 minute family window and edited twice 'so her children looked good'

12 March 2024, 11:20 | Updated: 12 March 2024, 18:06

Kate edited controversial Mother's Day picture (l) to make it 'as good as possible' William and Camilla at the Commonwealth Service
Kate edited controversial Mother's Day picture (l) to make it 'as good as possible' William and Camilla at the Commonwealth Service. Picture: Social Media/Alamy

By StephenRigley

Prince William took Kate's Mother's Day photograph in a 40-minute window before she edited it twice to "make it the best it can be."

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Today, it emerged the Prince of Wales took the picture of his smiling family on a £2,900 Canon camera before Kate made the edits ahead of Sunday's public release.

Aides had spent weeks planning the Instagram release for Mother's Day in a bid to put a stop to the vicious social media speculation about the Princesses health. Comments that have been posted since her surgery in January have deeply upset and angered the couple.

Read More: Royals ‘rally around Kate’ as ‘Photogate’ played down by insiders as ‘bump in the road, not an earthquake’

Kate's controversial Mother's Day picture
Kate's controversial Mother's Day picture. Picture: Instagram

Read More: ‘This isn’t a mistake Meg would make’: Harry and Meghan wade into Kate's Mother's Day photo mess

Read More: Kate wanted to ‘come clean immediately’ over Mother’s Day photo edit as she thought ‘honesty was best policy’

Read More: Kate left ‘very sad’ by Mother’s Day photo row and only edited picture as she ‘wanted it to be perfect’

But the plan backfired after six of the world's top picture agencies including the Press Association and Reuters pulled the photo from their wires and libraries amid concern that the "source has manipulated the image".

This prompted Kate to take to X -formerly Twitter - to admit she "edited" the image and apologise for "any confusion" the image caused.

Kate is said to have felt that honesty was "the best policy" and wanted to "own up" to the Photoshop blunder.

Insiders told The Times that the Princess felt "awful" about the picture and had been trying to make it the "best it could be", adding that she was "thinking of her own children when editing the picture, hoping that they looked good for their own sakes".

Kate's apology for the Mother's Day picture
Kate's apology for the Mother's Day picture. Picture: Social media

Read More: Prince William makes solo appearance at climate event hours after Kate apologised amid 'Photoshop' row

Read More: The insistence that we see Kate is tantamount to stalking, writes Shelagh Fogarty

Royal sources said the princess had made "minor adjustments" to the picture, which she and her husband had hoped would be a lovely "informal shot to mark Mother's Day.

The source added: "This was an amateur, family photograph taken by the Princess of Wales. Their Royal Highnesses wanted to offer an informal picture of the family together for Mother's Day.

"The Princess made minor adjustments as she shared in her statement on social media, the Wales family spent Mother's Day together and had a wonderful day."

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

Palace aides did not spot any signs of Photoshop but it's not believed the edits were made aware to the princess' team before it became public.

(left-right) Princess Royal, Queen Camilla and the Prince of Wales attending the annual Commonwealth Day Service
(left-right) Princess Royal, Queen Camilla and the Prince of Wales attending the annual Commonwealth Day Service. Picture: Alamy

One red flag might have been the fact the beaming family portrait was shot in such a short time on Friday. The busy schedules of the Wales family meant the picture had to be taken while everyone was back at home and it would have been some feat for William to take such a captivating photo with all the members of the family simultaneously roaring with laughter..

A plan was put in place to release the photo and a message from Kate herself at 9am on Sunday - but what quickly ensued was 24 hours of intense scrutiny as the Palace faced questions from all angles over why the family photo appeared to be digitally manipulated.

The row overshadowed yesterday'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.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Breaking
A 14-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in Manchester has been named locally as Ibrahima Seck

Two boys, 14, and 16-year-old charged with the murder of 14-year-old schoolboy Ibrahima Seck

Health leaders are now urging people to be cautious when considering cosmetic procedures.

Vampire facial warning issued after cleaning concerns at Wolverhampton clinic

An elderly old age pensioner sits with his hands on a walking stick in a care home.

Gut bacteria changes could be ‘warning sign for worsening Parkinson’s symptoms’

Karen Bass says the restrictions will be in force in downtown areas of LA from 8pm to 6am local time (4am to 2pm UK time).

Los Angeles mayor imposes curfew 'to stop the looting' on fifth day of clashes against immigration raids

The report added that it should become easier for parents to organise “safe play” in their streets, and there should be a national ban on “No Ball Games” signs.

'Too much screen time, not enough play': Calls to ban ‘No Ball Games’ signs to reduce children's reliance on smartphones

The ASA did not uphold complaints about Price appearing to be unhealthily thin, and concluded that the ad was not irresponsible on that basis.

'Not empowering - just objectifying': Advertising watchdog bans Diesel ad featuring Katie Price

A number of homes and police vehicles were damaged during the riotous behaviour.

Police use water cannon in Ballymena after petrol bombs thrown at officers in second night of disorder

Bowel cancer patient Kelly Buckle, 40, is operated on during a state-of-the-art robot assisted surgery performed by the NHS at Solihull Surgical Hub in Solihull Hospital, West Midlands.

Robotic surgery set to soar in NHS as 90% of all keyhole surgeries to be assisted by robots in decade

Despite weaker demand, renters are still facing a limited supply of homes for rent, Zoopla said.

'Still being squeezed': Rent rises slow to four-year low but low-income tenants say crisis far from over

Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers of England acknowledge the fans after the teams defeat in the international friendly match between England and Senegal at City Ground on June 10, 2025.

Tuchel insists ‘no need to panic’ as England booed off for second time in four days after shock defeat against Senegal

The biggest lottery prize the UK has seen could still be won after Tuesday’s EuroMillions draw had no winners.

EuroMillions jackpot rolls over again as UK’s largest ever prize of £208m is unclaimed

The violence flared following an earlier peaceful protest in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the town at the weekend.

Missiles thrown at police in second night of Northern Ireland disorder following protest over alleged sexual assault

Emergency services at the scene on Russell Close in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, where a man and a nine-year-old girl died in a house fire on Sunday morning.

Father and nine-year-old daughter that died in house fire named, as girl, 11, still fighting for life in hospital

The global superstar has reportedly offered seats to her London tour at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to families in need through food banks across the city.

Beyoncé 'gives away' gig tickets to low-income families after struggling to fill seats at Cowboy Carter London tour

from next month, women aged 25 to 49 in England who are negative for human papillomavirus (HPV) will receive screening invites every five years.

Cervical screening invites to be sent out every five years for some women in new NHS changes

Alex Eastwood

Kickboxer, 15, who died after charity match had fought 34-year-old man week before