By BRIAN MELLEY (Associated Press)
LONDON (AP) — The initial photo of Kate, the Princess of Wales, after having surgery on her abdomen nearly two months ago was released on Sunday following a lot of talk about where she had gone.
However, the photo was later removed by The Associated Press and other news outlets because it seemed to have been altered, leading to more speculation.
The picture of Kate sitting with her three children was said to be taken earlier in the week in Windsor and was credited to her husband, William, Prince of Wales and future king.
“Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months,” Kate said on social media. “Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day.”
AP initially published the photo, issued by Kensington Palace, but later retracted it because upon closer inspection, it seemed that the source had modified the image in a way that did not meet AP’s photo standards. The photo shows an inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte’s left hand.
The Kensington Palace media office is not open on weekends and a voicemail left for a spokesperson was not immediately returned.
The release of the photo came after weeks of gossip on social media about what had happened to Kate since she left a hospital on Jan. 29 after a nearly two-week stay following planned surgery. She hadn’t been seen publicly since Christmas Day.
The royal family has been under more scrutiny than usual in recent weeks, because both Kate and King Charles III can’t carry out their usual public duties due to health problems.
Royal officials say Charles is undergoing treatment for an unspecified form of cancer, which was discovered during treatment for an enlarged prostate. The monarch has canceled all his public engagements while he receives treatment, though he has been photographed walking to church and meeting privately with government officials and dignitaries.
Kate, 42, underwent surgery Jan. 16 and her condition and the reason for the surgery have not been revealed, though Kensington Palace, Prince William and Kate’s office said it was not cancer-related.
Although the palace initially said that it would only provide significant updates and that she would not return to royal duties before Easter — March 31 this year — it followed up with a statement last month amid the rumors and conspiracy theories by saying she was doing well and reiterating its previous statement.
“Kensington Palace made it clear in January the timelines of the princess’ recovery and we’d only be providing significant updates,” the palace said Feb. 29. “That guidance stands.”
At the time, royal aides told The Sun newspaper: “We’ve seen the madness of social media and that is not going to change our strategy. There has been much on social media but the Princess has a right to privacy and asks the public to respect that.”
Further questions were raised last week when the British military appeared to jump the gun in announcing Kate would attend a Trooping the Color ceremony in June, apparently without consulting palace officials.
The public appearance would have been the first important official responsibility since the surgery for Kate, but Kensington Palace did not confirm any planned public events for her. Palace officials, not government departments, are responsible for announcing and confirming the royals’ participation in events.
The army later deleted the mention of her presence.
According to British media, the army did not get approval from Kensington Palace before releasing information about Kate’s appearance in June. They announced the event based on the expectation that Kate, as Colonel of the Irish Guards, would inspect the troops at the annual military ceremony this year.
