Buckingham Palace has addressed the confusion surrounding the photograph selected to celebrate Prince Harry's 40th birthday.
The image in question was taken during an official event in Dublin in July 2018, a day that also included the presence of Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex. Notably, however, Meghan is absent from the particular snapshot that the Palace chose to share.
Prince Harry's milestone birthday has sparked significant discussion, especially following the unexpected public messages of congratulations from King Charles III and Prince William on their social media platforms. These greetings, combined with the nuanced interpretations that have emerged, have fueled speculation about the state of relationships within the royal family. The choice of image has only intensified the controversy, as it appears to overlook Meghan's role at the event.
The photograph originates from a joint engagement that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended as part of their official duties. During the event, the couple was seated at a round table with various guests; Meghan was present beside Harry. Initial reactions suggested that the Royal Family had intentionally cropped Meghan out of the photograph. However, Buckingham Palace promptly clarified this misunderstanding.
A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace explained that the image used to commemorate Harry’s birthday was sourced from photographer Jimmy Rainford, who uploaded it to the Getty agency. The photograph selected for the tribute featured a closer shot that focused solely on Prince Harry, whereas a wider version included both him and Meghan, along with other attendees. Thus, it was not a matter of cropping but rather a decision to highlight an image where Meghan did not appear.
This clarification aims to quell the speculation that arose from the perceived exclusion of Meghan, particularly in light of the strained relations between the Royal Family and the Sussexes. Given the current dynamics, public scrutiny of actions from both sides of the Atlantic is at an all-time high, as any gesture is likely to be interpreted as either a deepening of rifts or an attempt to bridge divides in Harry's relationship with his father and brother.
The subject of photo editing in official royal images has proven to be a recurring headache for the institution. A prominent example occurred in March when the Prince and Princess of Wales shared a family photograph to celebrate Mother’s Day in the UK. The image, which featured Kate Middleton with her three children, was taken by Prince William but was later removed by major news agencies, including Getty, AFP, Reuters, and the Associated Press, due to an “inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte's left hand.” This incident quickly went viral, particularly in the context of prior speculation regarding Kate's health following abdominal surgery.
In response to the backlash and to preempt further conspiracy theories, Kate Middleton issued a public apology. She stated, “Like many amateur photographers, I occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to apologize for any confusion caused by the family photo we shared yesterday. I hope you all had a happy Mother’s Day. C.”
