Prince William and Kate Middleton have made no ‘firm decision’ on who will be behind the camera when they release photo to mark Prince Louis’ birthday next month – after fallout from princess’s

Mother’s Day Photoshop fail

The Prince and Princess of Wales have made no ‘firm decision’ about whether they will hire a professional photographer to mark Prince Louis’ birthday next month.

William and Kate intend to continue the tradition of releasing photographs marking their children’s birthdays despite the frenzy over the manipulated family picture issued by Kensington Palace last week on Mother’s Day, sources have claimed.

Kate publicly took the blame for the photoshopped image – which was ‘killed’ by six of the world’s top picture agencies over concern that it had been ‘manipulated – and in an apology on social media said: ‘Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.’

Prince Louis turns six on April 23 and sources close to the couple say no ‘firm decision’ has been taken yet on whether Kate will be behind the camera.

‘They appreciate the public’s love and affection for their children and know there is a public appetite to see them on their birthdays,’ an aide told The Sunday Times.

Similarly, a source close to Kate noted that the couple hope the next photograph will be met with less backlash, adding that all she had intended to do was ‘bring a bit of joy’ and release a reassuring image to thank the public for their ongoing support amid her health battles.

William and Kate have a tradition of releasing photographs marking their children’s birthdays. The couple last April released this adorable photo of Kate pushing Prince Louis around in a wheelbarrow in Windsor to celebrate him turning five years old
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William and Kate have a tradition of releasing photographs marking their children’s birthdays. The couple last April released this adorable photo of Kate pushing Prince Louis around in a wheelbarrow in Windsor to celebrate him turning five years old

Prince Louis is pictured at a beach in Norfolk. The photograph, taken by his mother Kate, was released by Kensington Palace ahead of his fourth birthday
For his third birthday, Kensington Palace released a photo of Prince Louis riding a bike. The picture was taken in April 2021 by his mother at Kensington Palace, shortly before he left for his first day of nursery at the Willcocks Nursery School
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For his third birthday, Kensington Palace released a photo of Prince Louis riding a bike. The picture was taken in April 2021 by his mother at Kensington Palace, shortly before he left for his first day of nursery at the Willcocks Nursery School

The Waleses released this photo of Louis in 2020 to mark his second birthday. The image was also taken by his mother and ‘amateur photographer’ Kate
Kate took this photo of Louis at their home in Norfolk in April 2019. It was released by Kensington Palace to mark his first birthday
Kate has not made an official public appearance since she underwent major abdominal surgery at the London Clinic on January 16, leading to a growing tsunami of speculation over her unknown health condition.

Rumours about her health only intensified when the Princess publicly took the blame for the family photograph released last week.

But a source close to Kate and William say the couple will disclose more information about her recovery in due course.

The Sunday Times quoted a friend as saying: ‘They will want to be clear and more open, but they’ll do it when they feel ready. I would expect that to be her instinct and it will be her call. They’re not going to be rushed.’

The source speculated that Kate and William, who are ‘at their most open when out interacting with members of the public’, may discuss her ‘recovery out on engagements’.

Kate is not expected to return to frontline duties until after April 17, when her three children go back to Lambrook School, near Ascot after the Easter holidays.

William will also take time away from public duties during the holiday, it is understood.

Concerns that the image had been manipulated were raised over a missing part of Princess Charlotte’s sleeve and the misaligned edge of her skirt, with other speculation including the positioning of Kate’s zip.

As well as the numerous imperfections in the photoshopped image, viewers also spotted that Kate appeared to not be wearing her wedding ring, which sparked multiple unfounded theories online about the state of her marriage.

Prince Louis turns six on April 23 and sources close to the couple say no ‘firm decision’ has been taken yet on whether the Prince and Princess of Wales will hire a professional photographer or if Kate will be behind the camera. She is pictured taking pictures as William takes part in helicopter manoeuvres across Dalvay lake in July 2011
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Prince Louis turns six on April 23 and sources close to the couple say no ‘firm decision’ has been taken yet on whether the Prince and Princess of Wales will hire a professional photographer or if Kate will be behind the camera. She is pictured taking pictures as William takes part in helicopter manoeuvres across Dalvay lake in July 2011

Kensington Palace released a picture of the Princess of Wales since surgery, but it was ‘killed’ by six of the world’s top picture agencies over concern that it had been ‘manipulated’. The photoshopped image is pictured above
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Kensington Palace released a picture of the Princess of Wales since surgery, but it was ‘killed’ by six of the world’s top picture agencies over concern that it had been ‘manipulated’. The photoshopped image is pictured above

William and Kate were spotted leaving Windsor for Westminster Abbey to attend The Commonwealth Day Service
Kate posted the apology on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Instagram account
Earlier this week, Kate made the unexpected decision to publicly take responsibility of the mishap and issue a personal apology on Instagram: ‘Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,’ she wrote.

‘I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused.

‘I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day. C.’

Despite calls for the original to be published, Kensington Palace said it would not be reissuing the unedited photograph taken by William of Kate and her children.

A friend and adviser to the couple said that Kate’s only mistake was not telling her team that she had edited the photos.

‘But she came out and said sorry. The photo was a misstep, even with something as innocent as that you should disclose altering it.’

Another friend insisted that it was just someone trying to project the polished image that the public has come to expect: ‘It’s a photo that she knew everyone would pore over so she pored over it herself — she likes trying to make the family look the best they can.’

A source also claimed William and Kate are ‘shaken and devastated’ at the online speculation about the status marriage.

Prince and Princess of Wales with their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in Norfolk in December 2022
Prince William delivers a speech as he attends the Diana Legacy Awards at the Science Museum in London on Thursday, March 14
The Prince and Princess of Wales intend to continue the tradition of releasing photographs marking their children’s birthdays and other special occasions. Pictured is the family photo the couple released for Christmas 2020
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The Prince and Princess of Wales intend to continue the tradition of releasing photographs marking their children’s birthdays and other special occasions. Pictured is the family photo the couple released for Christmas 2020

Now sources within the royal circles are warning of the negative affect rumours may be having on the future Queen as she recovers from her major surgery in January.

One insider said: ‘I worry about all this attention on Catherine. She did not look happy at all in the car on Monday.’

Kate was seen in the backseat of a car with her husband as he left Windsor to travel to London for two public engagements.

The Mail understands she was on route for a ‘private appointment’ and she did not accompany William publicly.

Despite calls for the original image to be published, Kensington Palace insisted it would not be reissuing the unedited photograph of Kate and her children.

It comes after further details emerged about the photo shoot, with William having taken the picture in just a 40-minute window on Friday before the Princess edited it twice in Photoshop to ‘make it the best it can be’.

The Prince of Wales took the picture of his smiling family on a £2,900 Canon camera before Kate made edits to improve the photo ahead of its public release on Instagram on Sunday.

Royal commentator Jennie Bond suggested Kate ‘must feel under intense pressure now whenever she’s going to be seen in public’ after her major surgery in January.

Also rallying round Kate yesterday was royal expert Angela Levin who praised her for being ‘honourable’.