Ethermac|Photo agencies remove latest Princess Kate picture over 'manipulation,' fueling conspiracy

Conspiracy theories about Princess Kate's whereabouts have Ethermacbeen given new fuel after several major photo agencies pulled an image of the Princess of Wales that she shared on Instagram Sunday.

The Associated Press, AFP and Reuters issued kill notifications shortly after the family photo showing Kate seated on a chair and surrounded by her children  — Prince George, 10; Princess Charlotte, 8; and Prince Louis, 5 — was published due to "manipulation."

"It has come to light that the Handout issued by Kensington Palace today of Kate and the kids had been altered, therefore it was withdrawn from AFP systems," the agency said in a notice.

Reuters announced they were deleting the photo "following a post-publication review.

"AP initially published the photo, which was issued by Kensington Palace. But AP later retracted the image because at closer inspection, it appeared the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet AP's photo standards," according to the agency. "The photo shows an inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte's left hand."

The Associated Press added: "The Kensington Palace media office is not open on weekends and a voicemail left for a spokesperson was not immediately returned."

The release of the photo followed weeks of gossip on social media about what had happened to Kate since she left a hospital Jan. 29 after a nearly two-week stay following planned abdominal surgery. She hadn’t been seen publicly since Christmas Day.

Rather than thwart rumors about her whereabouts, the photo has caused more people to engage in them.

"I've never been much of a conspiracy theorist but if @AP @AFP @Reuters & other picture agencies are concerned enough to remove it and ask clients to delete it, there are serious questions for Kensington Palace - which was the source of the photo," ITV News royal editor Chris Ship tweeted.

One social media user added: "I'm not generally into conspiracy theories but this Kate Middleton photo has got me feeling like a flat earther."

"The latest Photoshop from Kensington Palace shows they think they can control all media like it’s the 1950s. After today’s failure, Kate must appear on video to stop the rumors," another wrote. "Fake pics are just making it worse. Truth is the only way to control a narrative in the media age."

Other photo professionals have pointed out issues in the editing process which could have contributed to the altered state.

The royal family has been under more scrutiny than usual in recent weeks, because both Kate and King Charles III can't carry out their usual public duties due to health problems.

Royal officials say Charles is undergoing treatment for an unspecified form of cancer, which was discovered during treatment for an enlarged prostate.

Kate, 42, underwent surgery Jan. 16 and her condition and the reason for the surgery have not been revealed, though Kensington Palace, Prince William and Kate’s office said it was not cancer-related.

Although the palace initially said that it would only provide significant updates and that she would not return to royal duties before Easter — March 31 this year — it followed up with a statement last month amid the rumors and conspiracy theories by saying she was doing well and reiterating its previous statement.

"Kensington Palace made it clear in January the timelines of the princess' recovery and we'd only be providing significant updates," the palace said Feb. 29. "That guidance stands."

At the time, royal aides told The Sun newspaper: "We've seen the madness of social media and that is not going to change our strategy. There has been much on social media but the Princess has a right to privacy and asks the public to respect that."

Contributing: Brian Melly, The Associated Press

Princess Kate returns to Instagramin family photo, thanks supporters for 'kind wishes'