A royal photographer has weighed in on the contentious Mother’s Day photo featuring Kate Middleton and her children, offering insights into the controversy surrounding its release.

On Sunday morning, the family unveiled a Mother’s Day portrait, captured by Prince William, showcasing the Princess of Wales alongside her three children – Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, and Prince George. Notably, this marked the first public image of Catherine since her abdominal surgery in January.

However, within the subsequent 24 hours, major media agencies, including Getty Images, AFP, Reuters, Associated Press, and PA Media, retracted the image citing concerns of potential manipulation, particularly noting an “inconsistency in alignment of Princess Charlotte’s left hand.” In response, the Princess of Wales acknowledged personally “editing” the photo in a Monday morning statement, apologising for any confusion it may have caused.

Royal photographer Ian Lloyd, with over two decades of experience photographing the royals, shared his perspective on the matter in an article for the Independent. He noted that while the practice of tweaking royal photos before release is not uncommon – tracing back to Queen Victoria’s era – the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have traditionally preferred to release their own images.

Lloyd acknowledged Kate’s adeptness in photography, citing her education in History of Art and proficiency with semi-professional cameras. He further highlighted William’s inclination towards informal family photoshoots, shaped by his childhood experiences.

However, Lloyd pointed out the challenge of balancing the desire for the “perfect shot” with maintaining authenticity, emphasising the risks of overediting. He suggested that the couple might benefit from professional assistance in photo editing to avoid such pitfalls.

The controversial photo remains on the family’s official social media account, albeit with a disclaimer underneath highlighting potential digital alterations by Kensington Palace. This development follows weeks of speculation surrounding Catherine’s absence from public view following her surgery, during which she spent 13 nights at the London Clinic. The Palace has provided minimal details regarding her condition, asserting that it is not related to cancer. Catherine is expected to resume public duties post-Easter.