The photo of Princess Catherine, a “disaster” in communication

The retouched photo of Princess Catherine of Wales has created an uncomfortable situation for the british royaltyhaving established a climate of distrust regarding the future information provided by the monarchy.

The Daily Mail tabloid, traditionally loyal to the British crown, was clear this Tuesday in the headline on its front page.

“How did Catalina’s photo become a public relations disaster?”the newspaper wrote.

On Sunday, coinciding with Mother’s Day, a photo of the Princess of Wales, Catherine, 42, was released, the first since the mysterious abdominal operation, of which the details are unknown, on the wife of the heir to the throne. British crown, William.

In it she was seen smiling with her three children. A few hours later it was discovered that there were several manipulations in the photo.

Rumors and speculation

After her operation in mid-January, Kensington Palace, in charge of communication for the princes of Wales, did not provide much information about Catherine’s illness, creating a breeding ground for rumors and speculation.

When it became known that the photo was doctored, international press agencies, including AFP, decided to withdraw it.

If it is normally royalty that turns its back on the press, in this case the tables were turned and it was the media that rejected information coming from royalty.

“Traditionally, they (royalties) are the ones who don’t accept the press, but for once the media got angry with the Windsors”summarized Ian Lloyd, author of several photography books on the British monarchy, in statements reproduced by The Independent.

“Presumably, the agencies felt that the Princes of Wales not only manipulated the photo but also manipulated the media and the general public,” added Lloyd in statements echoed by The Independent.

Voices have also been raised in defense of Princess Catherine, such as the American actress Whoopi Goldberg, in a program on the ABC network.

“I’m sorry, but I know very few people who don’t manipulate their photographs.”said.

The slip of Catherine, who admitted on Monday in a statement that she was the one who carried out the manipulation, while apologizing for the confusion caused, has led to comparisons with her sister-in-law Meghan Markle, wife of Prince Harry, her little brother. husband.

“It is a mistake that Meghan would never make”said a source close to the American actress, in statements reported by the New York Post.

Meghan “He has a good eye and pays extraordinary attention to details,” added the same source.

In any case, confidence in the information provided by the Princes of Wales appears to have been undermined.

Climate of distrust

“In the current context, any manipulation of an image, even minor and without the intention to mislead, can arouse suspicion,” said Chris Morris, director of fact-checking site Full Fact.

“Conspiracy theories arise when there is an information vacuum, so if you want to be believed, you have to be transparent”he added.

According to Peter Hunt, who in the past was in charge of monarchical information at the BBC, “people will be suspicious the next time they give information about the health” of members of the royal family, at a time when King Charles III is being treated as a cancer.

The episode with Catalina’s photo comes after a week of confusion about her condition, in which Guillermo canceled an official engagement at the last minute due to mysterious “personal reasons”.

Shortly after, the announcement of Catherine’s participation in a military parade in June was withdrawn after publication.

After this slip, the princes of Wales have the challenge of regaining the trust of their fellow citizens regarding the information about Catherine’s mysterious abdominal ailment.

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