AFP no longer regards Kensington Palace a “trusted source” after news agencies ‘killed’ doctored Kate Middleton photo

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Image: GrandWarszawski | Dreamstime.com

 

Kensington Palace, the official residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, has found itself in the midst of a controversy. The Agence France-Presse (AFP), one of the world’s leading news agencies, has declared that it no longer considers Kensington Palace a "trusted source". This decision came after a doctored photo of Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, and her children was released by the palace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by The Prince and Princess of Wales (@princeandprincessofwales)

 

 

The photo in question was shared to celebrate Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom. However, it was soon discovered that the image had been significantly altered. This led to a wave of criticism, with many questioning the ethics behind the manipulation of the image. In response to the controversy, Kate Middleton apologized for the “confusion” over the photo, attributing it to an "experiment with editing".

 

Phil Chetwynd, the global news director of AFP, expressed his disappointment in an interview on BBC Radio 4’s The Media Show. He stated that the agency should never have verified the use of the image as it "violated our guidelines". As a result, AFP, along with other major news agencies like the Associated Press and Reuters, issued notices to “kill” the picture, a move usually reserved for North Korean or Iranian propaganda.

 

This incident has raised serious questions about the trustworthiness of sources and the ethical standards of the media. It serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining integrity and transparency in the dissemination of information.

 

What are your thoughts on this matter? Do you believe that the palace’s reputation has been irreparably damaged, or can it regain the public’s trust? We’d love to hear your views on this topic.

 

 

Read more:

• https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/kate-middleton-editing-photos-william-harry-b2512357.html
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2024/03/14/kensington-palace-no-longer-a-trusted-source-after-releasing-edited-kate-middleton-photo-afp-says/?sh=2337f31b5238
• https://deadline.com/2024/03/kate-middleton-picture-afp-kensington-palace-not-trusted-1235858254/