Kate Middleton’s Mother’s Day photo is pulled over ‘manipulation’ fears: Picture is recalled by agencies as questions are raised over the first image of the Princess of Wales since her surgery

It was a beautiful Mother’s Day image, designed to calm nerves and quell malicious internet speculation about the Princess of Wales’s condition.

But last night questions were raised about possible digital manipulation of a new family photo showing Kate with her three children.

The image marks the first time Kate, 42, has been photographed publicly – officially at least – since undergoing abdominal surgery in January. But in an extraordinary development, foreign photo agencies including Reuters, AP, Getty and AFP withdrew the photo last night, saying it may have been digitally manipulated.

While there is no doubt about the authenticity of the photo, officially released by Kensington Palace, it will do nothing to dampen the ridiculous online conspiracy theories swirling around the princess.

AP issued a warning asking them to “kill” it from their system, saying, “Upon closer inspection, it appears that the source manipulated the image.”

Others demand that it be removed from image libraries for ‘editorial’ reasons.

The Princess of Wales has not been seen since she attended the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham

AFP added: ‘Mandatory murder. Due to an editorial issue, this photo of the Prince of Wales has been withdrawn… and may no longer be used in any way. Please immediately remove it from all your online services, stop using it otherwise, and delete it from your servers.”

Reuters said the photo was withdrawn from circulation “following a post-publication review.” There is currently great concern in the news industry about the manipulation of photos using AI technology, although it is not clear whether that has happened in this case.

Some royal watchers pointed out that Princess Charlotte’s wrist and sleeve of her sweater appeared to have been digitally altered. There also appeared to be a problem with the heel of Charlotte’s boot and with the paving behind the family.

It comes after the Welsh family’s Christmas card was criticized for a ‘Photoshop fail’ which apparently left one of Louis’ fingers missing – at the time sources claimed it was merely bent backwards.

Kensington Palace appeared surprised by the development last night and declined to comment. But it will do little to quell the feverish speculation on the internet and on social media surrounding the princess, which the release of the photo had hoped to do.

Kate left hospital on January 29 and returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to be reunited with her children almost two weeks after the operation. Pictured: Kate and William in September 2022

William has stepped up royal duties in Kate’s absence. Pictured: Prince William and Princess Kate are seen during a ceremonial welcome for the President and First Lady of the Republic of Korea during the Horse Guards Parade on November 21 last year

It was originally posted directly by Kensington Palace to their social media channels and then sent to global photo agencies. It is said to have been taken by the Prince of Wales to their Windsor home earlier this week and sent directly by the couple to the palace press office on Saturday.

Apart from a grainy paparazzi photo last week, it’s the first time Kate has been seen since joining the royal family at church on Christmas Day.

While the couple have released photos from professional photographers in previous years, Adelaide Cottage has become a special sanctuary for the family in the months since the Princess was admitted to hospital on January 16, with only the nearest family allowed to visit. Accompanying the photo was a personally written message that read: “Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the past two months. Wishing everyone a happy Mother’s Day. C’

Despite what was clearly a serious operation that resulted in the need for a long period of recovery, many will be comforted by how radiant Kate looks.

Officials have said the Princess of Wales (pictured on December 5) continues to do ‘well’. Kate plans to return to royal engagements after Easter

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams was joined by royal fans who showed their joy at seeing Kate’s Mother’s Day photo

Wearing jeans with a casual jacket and jumper, plus her favorite £250 Chloe walking boots, she sits with her arms around Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis. Prince George, ten, stands behind her with his arms around his mother’s neck.

All four are clearly bursting with laughter, either at their father or at something behind the camera.

Kensington Palace’s refusal to provide any major update on the princess’s condition has been criticized in recent weeks. Although they have made it clear from the start that the public should not expect any ongoing commentary on her recovery – at Kate’s personal request – their silence has resulted in a swirl of speculation and innuendo in the dark corners of social media.

King Charles also shared a touching tribute to his ‘dear mum’ on Mother’s Day, writing: ‘Wishing all mothers, and those missing their mothers today, a peaceful Mother’s Sunday’

Some of it is vacuous and clearly intended to titillate, such as the ridiculous suggestion that the princess is recovering from a ‘Brazilian butt lift’.

Other claims, however, were downright morbid and extremely defamatory, often accompanied by terrifyingly sophisticated fake photos of Kate.

The gossipmongers’ chatter has become so loud that mainstream publications from the New York Times to British Vogue have started writing about it, while even the BBC and ITV have made reports on the popular topic of ‘#WhereisKate?’

Sources said yesterday that Kate is unlikely to resume her public duties until at least Easter.