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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Comment
Stephen Bates

Editing photos to make the family look good? Kate’s just following royal tradition

The late Queen Elizabeth II with some of her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
The late Queen Elizabeth II with some of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Photograph: The Prince and Princess of Wales/Kensington Palace/PA

Another day, another royal image manipulated. First there was the shock disclosure by photo agencies last week that Catherine, Princess of Wales, had slightly tinkered around the edges of a family photograph taken by her husband. Now comes the revelation of another altered picture, this time of Queen Elizabeth at Balmoral in her last weeks, surrounded by grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

When it was first released nearly a year ago, no one noticed that the patterns on the queen’s tartan skirt did not match, or that among several other egregious manipulations the image of Prince Louis may have been moved slightly further back against the arm of the sofa. Altogether Getty Images claims to have spotted seven digital enhancements – apparently, it says, made at source. Cue renewed mouth frothing by the professionals.

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