Getty Confirms Digital Enhancement of Queen Elizabeth Photo with Family
Getty Images has acknowledged that a photograph of the late Queen Elizabeth II with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren was digitally enhanced. The image in question was taken by the Princess of Wales at Balmoral in 2022 and released by Kensington Palace in April 2023 to commemorate what would have been the Queen's 97th birthday. The agency has applied an editor's note to the image to indicate the alterations, which align with its editorial policy.
The revelation comes in the wake of previous incidents involving the digital manipulation of royal photographs. Earlier, picture agencies had issued a "kill notice" for a Mother's Day photograph released by the Princess of Wales, who later confirmed she had edited the image. In both instances, the digitally altered photographs have sparked discussions and concerns regarding public trust in the Royal Family.
Despite calls for the original photograph to be released, Kensington Palace has stated it will not reissue the edited image. The controversy has extended to fueling rumors about the Princess of Wales's health, following her recovery from an abdominal surgery earlier in the year. The enhancements made to the family portrait, which were intended to present the image in the best light, have instead led to heightened scrutiny and speculation.
