Kate Middleton feels ‘awful’ about edited family photo, wanted it to look the ‘best it could’: report

Kate Middleton deeply regrets sharing an edited photo of herself with her children on UK Mother’s Day, which in turn fueled concerns about her whereabouts, according to a new report.

A palace insider told the Telegraph Monday that the Princess of Wales feels “awful” about doctoring the family portrait and just wanted to make it the “best it could be.”

The insider added that Middleton, 42, wanted to be transparent about her mistake, as she believes honesty is the “best policy.”

A royal insider insisted Middleton feels “awful” about sharing the edited photo with her kids and just wanted the snap to be the “best it could be.” @princeandprincessofwales / Instagram The insider added that Middleton believes honesty is the “best policy.” AFP via Getty Images

A friend of Middleton, meanwhile, told the Mirror that the princess would be “upset” by the conspiracy theories that followed what was supposed to be an “innocent family photograph.”

In a rare move, Middleton released an apology earlier Monday after sharing a photo of herself with sons Prince George, 10, and Prince Louis, 5, and daughter Princess Charlotte, 8, on Sunday that clearly had been Photoshopped.

“Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused,” she wrote on X from the official Prince and Princess of Wales account.

The Princess of Wales issued an apology and admitted the photo had been altered. UK Press via Getty Images “Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,” she said. Corbis via Getty Images

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

Several photo agencies including Reuters, Getty Images and the Associated Press issued a “kill notice” Sunday after suspecting that the image had been tampered with.

“At closer inspection it appears that the source has manipulated the image,” a message from the AP read.

The edits caused an outpouring of worries for Middleton, who has not attended any public-facing events since December 2023 as she recovers from an abdominal surgery she underwent in January.

Sources shared that Middleton celebrated UK Mother’s Day with her kids. WireImage Wild conspiracies have been spreading about the royal amid her absence following her surgery in January. Corbis via Getty Images

While some people spread conspiracy theories that Middleton’s health was in poor condition, others were convinced she had plastic surgery. Some experts even believed that the family photo was either AI-generated or manipulated using Middleton’s 2016 Vogue cover.

Adding fuel to the fire, Kensington Palace reportedly refused to release the unaltered version.

---

More must-see royals coverage:

How Prince Harry and Meghan Markle metPrince William and Kate Middleton’s relationship timelineRoyal family tree and line of succession

---

A source told the Daily Mail that Middleton “had a wonderful” Mother’s Day with her family despite the scandal.

William caused a stir when he was a no-show at a royal event this month over “personal reasons.” Getty Images Middleton’s rep told Page Six she is “doing well” and will return to her public-facing duties when she fully mends. Getty Images

A rep for Middleton recently assured Page Six that she was “doing well” and never expected to be seen in public until after Easter.

“Kensington Palace made it clear in January the timelines of the princess’ recovery and we’d only be providing significant updates,” her rep told us last month. “That guidance stands.”

While Middleton has yet to make her public debut at an official event, she has been seen riding in a car near Windsor Castle twice since her recovery began.

She was spotted riding in a car with the Prince of Wales on Monday. Getty Images She hasn’t attended a public event since a Christmas church service in December 2023. UK Press via Getty Images

She rode in an SUV with her mom earlier this month after suspicions started to arise when her husband, Prince William, bailed on a royal event due to unspecified “personal reasons.”

Middleton was again spotted cruising in a car Monday after apologizing for the photo snafu, this time with the Prince of Wales, 41, in the seat beside her.

We were told William was en route to attend the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, while his wife was on her way to a private appointment.