On Mother’s Day, Kensington Palace released a purported new photo of Princess of Wales with her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The photo caused a stir online, especially because Kate Middleton’s health and location have been intensely questioned since she had planned abdominal surgery in January.
Shortly after, photo agencies such as the Associated Press and the Agence France-Presse issued kill notices on the image, prohibiting their online services from sharing it.
ITV News royals editor Chris Ship tweeted commented, “Kensington Palace has not responded after at least 3 international pictures agencies refused to distribute this morning’s photo of Kate and her children. Some of them (@AP) have stated ‘the source [the palace] has manipulated the image’.”
He soon added, “And now this from @AFP. ‘MANDATORY KILL-DUE TO AN EDITORIAL ISSUE THIS PHOTO NUMBER 000_34L82NW BRITAIN-ROYALS BY PRINCE OF WALES HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN FROM AFP SYSTEMS AND MAY NO LONGER BE USED IN ANY MANNER. PLEASE IMMEDIATELY REMOVE IT FROM ALL YOUR ONLINE SERVICES, STOP USING.'”
Ship also noted that the kill notice will likely result in more people seeing the photo.
The release of the photo fueled conspiracy theories that have been circulating for weeks. On Jan. 17, Kensington Palace explained that Middleton had a “planned abdominal surgery” and added, “The surgery was successful, and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days, before returning home to continue her recovery.”
“Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.”
“The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private. Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness’ progress when there is significant new information to share.”
Since then, royalists have questioned Middleton’s prolonged absence from the public eye, the lack of photos of anyone in her family visiting her at the hospital, and the nature of the surgery she underwent. But after Prince William unexpectedly canceled a planned appearance at a memorial service for his godfather, speculation about his wife surged.
At the same time, King Charles announced his own health battle and underwent surgery for prostate cancer at the beginning of February. Unlike his daughter-in-law, Charles was photographed after the procedure and has largely resumed royal duties, such as welcoming foreign dignitaries to Buckingham Palace.
More to come…
