Royal Family: Princess Catherine says sorry over photo edit 'confusion'

Princess Catherine has said sorry "for any confusion" her Mother's Day photograph has caused.

On social media Princess of Wales said: "Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing."

The image, taken by her husband Prince William, was the first of Catherine to be released since an operation she had in January and was posted to mark Mother's Day.

It comes after several news agencies stopped sharing the royal photo - which shows the Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte and Princes George and Louis - while asking for clarification because of concerns the image had been digitally edited or changed.

News agencies are companies which provide photos for newspapers and websites - like the BBC - and make a lot of effort to make sure they are accurate.

The image was included on the front pages of several national newspapers and websites, including BBC News, and used on TV news bulletins.

But over the weekend lots of people have been pointing out bits of the photo that look strange - especially Princess Charlotte's left cuff and Prince Louis' fingers - saying it looked like it had been edited.

Then five of the biggest new photo agencies - Getty Images, the Press Association (PA), AFP, Reuters and Associated Press - removed it noting issues with "Princess Charlotte's left hand".

Most news organisations have strict rules on the use of photographs that have been edited and some only allow "minor adjustments" like the removal of dust spots.

Social media platform X also posted saying that the image is "believed to be digitally altered".

In her statement Catherine said: "I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother's Day. C."

The personal sign off of "C", for Catherine suggests she is taking responsibility for the changes to the photograph, rather than her husband Prince William, who took the photo, or any of the wider team around the royal couple.

Kensington Palace said it would not be issuing the original unedited photograph.