Kate Middleton and Prince William’s friends ‘shocked’ over detail in manipulated Mother’s Day picture

Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, sparked controversy when a manipulated photo of her on Mother’s Day surfaced, leading to speculation and conspiracy theories about her relationship with Prince William. The edited image, shared on social media, omitted her wedding ring, prompting confusion and anger among royal fans and experts. Kate apologized for any confusion caused by the edited photo, attributing it to her experimentation with editing as an amateur photographer. Major news agencies, including the Associated Press and Getty, issued “kill notices” to remove the photo from their platforms, casting doubt on Kensington Palace’s reliability as a source. Phil Chetwynd, AFP’s global news director, expressed concern over the palace’s lack of response to requests for the original image, indicating a loss of trust in their credibility. This incident underscores heightened scrutiny of content from even trusted sources, with comparisons drawn to rare instances involving propaganda from North Korea or Iran.

The controversy surrounding a manipulated photo posted by Kate Middleton on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ official Instagram account has escalated. Instagram added an ‘altered photo’ notice to the image, exacerbating speculation about Middleton’s status amid rumors of Prince William’s alleged affair with Rose Hanbury.

The manipulated Mother’s Day photo contained editing mistakes and Middleton wasn’t wearing her wedding ring, fueling concerns about the state of her marriage with Prince William. These rumors have persisted for five years, originating from reports in April 2019 by In Touch Magazine alleging William’s affair with Hanbury, a friend of Middleton’s.

Despite denials from both parties and assertions from royal experts like Richard Kay that the rumors are unfounded, the situation has led to increased scrutiny of Middleton’s personal life and the future of the royal family.

The gossip spread like wildfire, and the same year, in 2019, the Daily Mail reported that Kate would “phase out” Rose Hanbury from their friend’s group. It didn’t exactly help that Rose lived nearby to William and Kate, had the same social circle, and even had houses in Norfolk close to each other.

Rose Hanbury, a prominent figure linked to the royal family, resides near William and Kate’s summer home, Anmer Hall, at Houghton Hall. She has deep-rooted connections to royalty, with her grandmother being one of Queen Elizabeth’s bridesmaids.

Hanbury’s friendship with Kate goes back years, and the couples have double-dated. Both women are patrons of the East Anglia Children’s Hospice. Hanbury, a former model turned political researcher, is married to David, the Marquess of Cholmondeley, and they have three children.

Rumors of an affair between Prince William and Hanbury surfaced in 2019, prompting denials from both parties and their friends. The lack of evidence and the friends’ continued camaraderie cast doubt on the rumors. However, social media speculation intensified when Kate appeared without her wedding ring in a manipulated photo, prompting discussions about the state of their marriage. Royal insiders expressed confusion over the situation, as the couple’s bond had always appeared strong despite the pressures they faced.

Please share this article on Facebook to wish Kate Middleton a fast recovery!

If you enjoyed this story about Kate, perhaps you’d be interested in reading more about her below.