The Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse all released kill notifications to media outlets over the photo — released by Kensington Palace on Sunday — announcing that they would no longer be distributing the image.

The AP wrote, “it appears that the source has manipulated the image.” AFP cited an “editorial issue,” while Reuters said the photo was withdrawn after a “post-publication review.”

Following its release, social media was abuzz with sleuths questioning whether the photo was photoshopped or AI-generated. Many were focused on the cuff of Princess Charlotte’s pink cardigan, which appears to disappear in the photo.

Other users pointed out that Middleton was not wearing her wedding ring.

“no rings, kids all have their fingers crossed, weird blurring on charlotte’s cuffs, leaves on the trees despite it being early mach - i’m sorry but they’re just asking for us to go full katespiracy at this point,” one user on X wrote.

  • Kraiden@kbin.run
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    4 months ago

    I don’t understand what would be photoshopped in that part of the image though. it’s too far down to be Kate’s hand, and if the kid was photoshopped in, why is her dress underneath showing through? The shop could only be concealing something ON the kid, right?

    My guess is she was holding a doll or something and that’s what was manipulated out

    I’m also not actually following any of this this though. Anybody got a TL;DR in what the conspiracy theorists are claiming?

    • EtherWhack@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      She, the Princess of Wales, went missing following a surgery at the beginning of the year. The most prevalent claim is that there was a complication with the surgery and may be in a coma or worse.

      The idea is that telltale signs of the photo being altered would imply the family is hiding her condition and released a fake photo to buy time

      • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        The thing I don’t get is why hide it at all. “She’s recovering. That’s all you get to know.” Is going to attract the same attention as trying to hide it, while telling sane people to fuck off.

        Unless they offed her. But uh, we won’t go there.

        • GladiusB@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          Well this would be another outspoken woman that was not traditionally married that died in suspicious circumstances within two generations. To say it wouldn’t look suspicious would be a lie.

          • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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            4 months ago

            I would expect that, if they really wanted to assassinate her… they’d have found something less interesting. Like maybe something that gives her cancer or something.

    • Vanon@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      I don’t see anything in these photos that warrants an article. Seems like another lame click-bait conspiracy, probably cooked up by tabloids or the equally brain-damaged: “But where’s Kate?!1” Even The Verge has an article, JFC.

      Social media will continue to fuel endless garbage from the minds of who-the-fuck-knows and literally insane people. Can’t wait for AI to turborcharge humanity’s decent into madness.