{"id":70669,"date":"2024-03-13T06:50:11","date_gmt":"2024-03-13T06:50:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/photo-furore-a-pr-disaster-uk-royal-family-can-ill-afford\/"},"modified":"2024-03-13T06:50:11","modified_gmt":"2024-03-13T06:50:11","slug":"photo-furore-a-pr-disaster-uk-royal-family-can-ill-afford","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/photo-furore-a-pr-disaster-uk-royal-family-can-ill-afford\/","title":{"rendered":"Photo furore a ‘PR disaster’ UK royal family can ill afford"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When the UK\u2019s Daily Mail, a loyal champion of the monarchy, splashes the headline \u201cHow did Kate photo become a PR disaster?\u201d, it is clear the royal family has a problem.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Watch ARY News live on\u00a0live.arynews.tv<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

In an extraordinary episode for the family, Catherine, Princess of Wales, on Monday apologised and admitted to editing an official portrait of her released by the palace on Sunday. The edits had prompted AFP and other agencies to withdraw the altered image.<\/p>\n

Kate, 42, has not been seen at a public event since attending a Christmas Day church service, and underwent abdominal surgery in January, fuelling speculation about her health. The photograph dominated the front pages of UK newspapers landing on doormats on Monday, which had gone to print before the alterations were detected.<\/p>\n

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The Sun tabloid ran with the headline \u201cLooking Great, Kate\u201d, adding the picture \u2018puts online rumours to bed\u2019. But the rumour mill instead went into overdrive when the photographs were pulled late on Sunday. Not only has the incident intensified speculation over Catherine\u2019s health but it has tested the bond of trust between the royal family and friendly media outlets.<\/p>\n

Even the Press Association, which has among the closest working relationships with the monarchy, killed its distribution of the photograph. Daily Mail columnist Richard Kay warned that \u2018trust and integrity are precious commodities\u2019 in maintaining the public support that underpins the institution.<\/p>\n

\u2018Suspicions\u2019<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Royal-supporting tabloids would normally have \u2018waited for it to blow over\u2019, Laura Clancy, lecturer in media at Lancaster University, told AFP. Other outlets have also often been reluctant to dip into royal controversy over fear they could lose access, she added. But the rise of social media now means that \u2018people can question and talk about it and there\u2019s news outlets around the world who don\u2019t stick to that line\u2019.<\/p>\n

In the digital media age, \u201cany manipulation of an image, even relatively minor edits done with no intention to mislead, can raise suspicions\u201d, Chris Morris, chief executive of fact-checking service Full Fact, said in a comment sent to AFP. Part of the problem is that the family distributes pictures from self-described \u2018amateur photographer\u2019 Catherine for use by professional media outlets, which have strict rules on using manipulated images.<\/p>\n

While there have been calls to use professionals, \u2018there are some \u2026 individuals whose brand is based on authenticity\u2019, explained Hannah Perry, lead digital researcher at the London-based think tank Demos. But royals must weigh that up against the fact that \u201ctrust is so low in public institutions and we know that people are becoming incredibly sceptical and also savvy\u201d about analysing information, she added. \u201cThe best-case scenario in that situation would be to be transparent,\u201d suggested Perry. On the streets of London, public reaction was mixed.<\/p>\n

\u2018Obsessive need for secrecy\u2019<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u201cI was actually quite shocked. I would think it would be a lot more seamless coming from such an official source,\u201d said 21-year-old student Flora Canavan. She added that her trust in the royal family had not been eroded as \u2018I don\u2019t think I trusted them beforehand\u2019. However, solicitor Jen Chambers said the incident had been \u2018massively blown up out of proportion\u2019 and that \u2018the kids probably weren\u2019t pulling good faces in the photo\u2019.<\/p>\n

Although the furore has caused embarrassment for loyal media outlets, they still remain supportive, for now. The Sun\u2019s front page on Tuesday urged \u2018social media trolls, idiotic conspiracy theorists and sniping media critics\u2019 to \u2018lay off Kate\u2019. It accused critics of waging \u2018a bullying campaign against a devoted mum, recovering from a serious operation, who simply wanted to offer the public a perfect portrait of her and her kids\u2019.<\/p>\n

While the Daily Mail\u2019s Kay said it was \u2018easy to see why the couple acted as they did\u2019, he offered a stark warning. \u201cThey are down to earth and unshowy. But it is this desire for ordinariness that conceals one significant flaw: a near-obsessive need for secrecy. \u201cIf pictures can be digitally altered, what else can be twisted? The British public adore the Royal Family but that adoration rests on them being told the truth. \u201cThere are precious commodities at stake here: trust and integrity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Social Media Storm Over Kate Middleton\u2019s Latest Pic Released By UK Royals<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n