UPDATED: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge has issued an announcement in regards to the controversial picture reportedly taken by her husband, Prince William, final week and revealed on March 10.

“Like many newbie photographers, I do often experiment with enhancing,” the royal couple posted on their Twitter/X account. “I wished to precise my apologies for any confusion the household {photograph} we shared yesterday brought on. I hope everybody celebrating had a really completely happy Mom’s Day.” The message was signed off “C,” indicating it got here instantly from Catherine.

The assertion comes after 4 information companies pulled the disputed picture following Catherine’s unspecified “stomach” surgical procedure. On Monday morning, the Press Affiliation — the newswire most relied on by the Royal Household — eliminated the picture from its service, following Reuters, the Related Press and Agence France-Press doing so on Sunday evening. Based on the AP, PA reportedly requested Kensington Palace for “clarification” relating to the {photograph} however didn’t get an sufficient response.

“Within the absence of that clarification, we’re killing the picture from our image service,” the information picture wire reportedly acknowledged. PA is essentially the most trusted supply of official information referring to the Royal Household. Together with the BBC they had been the primary to interrupt information of Queen Elizabeth II’s dying in 2022 and had been the one company granted video entry when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son Prince Archie was born in 2019.

The {photograph}, which confirmed Kate (as she is informally identified) sitting outdoor along with her three kids round her, was reportedly taken by Prince William final week to mark U.Ok. Moms Day on Sunday.

Workers at Kensington Palace revealed it on the royal couple’s official social media pages on Sunday earlier than issuing it to pick press companies for syndication, as is typical for photos distributed by the royals.

Inside hours, nevertheless, Reuters, AP and AFP had all issued “kill” notifications, taking down the {photograph} from their very own databases and requesting that purchasers who had licensed the {photograph} additionally take away it from their publications.

Of their discover AP mentioned “The supply has manipulated the picture” whereas AFP cited an “editorial problem.” Reuters mentioned it had withdrawn the {photograph} following a “post-publication evaluate.”

Even earlier than the {photograph} was withdrawn, it had sparked intense curiosity as a result of it was the primary time the Duchess had been seen in public since Christmas Day, when she attended church in Sandringham, U.Ok. alongside along with her household.

On Jan. 17 Kensington Palace issued an announcement saying she had undergone “deliberate stomach surgical procedure” which might require an extra 10-day hospital keep however declined to specify the explanation for the operation. They indicated Kate wouldn’t resume her royal duties — that means public appearances — till after Easter, if not later. In February Prince William attended the BAFTA Movie Awards alone.

Final week a paparazzi {photograph} emerged of Kate and her mom in a automotive, with Kate within the passenger seat. The blurry image, during which the duchess is sporting giant sun shades, did little to assuage the general public’s concern about her welfare.

Whispers that Kate would possibly attend the annual army parade Trooping the Coloration, throughout which the Royal Household at all times seem on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, had been swiftly shot down by the palace final week, inflicting rumors about the reason for Kate’s extended absence from the general public eye to accentuate.

The picture issued on Sunday to commemorate Moms Day was initially welcomed by the U.Ok. press and public, displaying Kate trying effectively. However on-line commentators quickly recognized plenty of discrepancies, corresponding to an inconsistency within the alignment of Princess Charlotte’s hand and skirt and the zip on Kate’s sweater. Based on the U.Ok. press, the palace has declined to touch upon both the {photograph} or the response of the picture companies.

The Duchess’s medical go away has come at a very tough time for the British Royal Household after her father-in-law King Charles was additionally lately identified with most cancers. He’s presently present process remedy.

Selection has reached out to Kensington Palace for remark.