Kate Middleton wanted to ‘own up’ to Photoshop fail, thought ‘honesty was the best policy’: She is ‘deeply upset’

Kate Middleton wanted to ‘own up’ to Photoshop fail, thought ‘honesty was the best policy’: She is ‘deeply upset’

Kate Middleton felt it was best for her to come clean about her major Photoshop fail “immediately” as she believed that honesty was the “best policy” in this situation, according to a royal insider.

The Princess of Wales, 42, who has been recovering from abdominal surgery behind closed doors, was forced to issue an apology after releasing a doctored family photo for UK’s Mother’s Day on Sunday.

After eagle-eyed social media users noticed a myriad of editing mishaps in the image, the mom of three reportedly felt “awful” about the backlash it has caused.

Kate Middleton felt it was best for her to come clean about her major Photoshop fail “immediately,” according to a royal insider. Prince of Wales/Kensington Palac / MEGA

Sources close to the Princess told the Telegraph that Middleton tried making the photo “the best it could be.”

Another insider close to the Palace told the Mirror that the Princess is no doubt “deeply upset by the furor” and media frenzy the “innocent family photograph” had caused.

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On Monday, the Princess was spotted leaving Windsor Castle with her husband, Prince William, just hours after her photo-related clarification.

Middleton was pictured in a black Land Rover to accompany her husband on the ride to Westminster Abbey, where the prince will attend the annual Commonwealth Day service without her.

It was the royal’s first public appearance in more than two months following her surgery, with her last appearing on Christmas Day while attending church in Sandringham.

The Princess of Wales, 42, was forced to issue an apology after releasing a doctored family photo on Sunday. AP

She is not expected to return to her public duties until sometime after the Easter holiday. 

Kate’s absence from the public eye had stirred up conspiracies over her health, which were only exacerbated by the release of the edited family snap.

Breaking down Kate Middleton's Photoshop fail


  • On Monday, Kensington Palace released a new photo and statement from Kate Middleton for UK Mother’s Day. Eagle-eyed fans immediately saw the photo — showing Kate surrounded by her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — was littered with mistakes, either from Photoshop or AI.
  • The photo, the original of which Kensington Palace refuses to release, was quickly recalled by photo agencies over fears it had been digitally “manipulated.”
  • Middleton issued an apology Monday after her photo went viral for its numerous Photoshop errors. “Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,” she said.

Sharp-eyed observers have detected a string of telltale signs that Princess Kate’s first post-surgery family photo had been altered — a suspicion that was confirmed by the royal’s own public apology. @princeandprincessofwales / Instagram

“Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,” Middleton wrote on X. “I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused.”

The royal tweeted her apologies after leading photo agencies — including Reuters, the Associated Press, Getty, and AFP — all yanked the image over numerous signs it had been altered.