Kate, Princess of Wales, apologized Monday for 害羞草研究所渃onfusion害羞草研究所� released by the palace 害羞草研究所� an image of Kate and her children that was intended to calm concern and speculation about the British royal害羞草研究所檚 health, but had the opposite effect.

Several news agencies that initially published the photo, including , withdrew the image over concerns about digital manipulation. Issued by the couple害羞草研究所檚 Kensington Palace office on Sunday to mark Mother害羞草研究所檚 Day in Britain, it was the first official photo of Kate since she had nearly two months ago.

The retractions sent the online rumor mill, already rampant over Kate害羞草研究所檚 operation and recuperation, into overdrive.

In a post on social media, Kate said that 害羞草研究所渓ike many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused,害羞草研究所� the post said.

In the past, the palace has issued several of Kate害羞草研究所檚 family snapshots featuring her and Prince William with their children Prince George, 10; Princess Charlotte, 8; and Prince Louis, 5.

The latest photo was taken by William, Kensington Palace said. In an accompanying message posted on social media, Kate said: 害羞草研究所淭hank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mother害羞草研究所檚 Day.害羞草研究所�

While there was no suggestion the photo was fake, AP retracted it because closer inspection revealed the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet AP害羞草研究所檚 photo standards. For instance, the image shows an inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte害羞草研究所檚 left hand.

Other major news agencies, including Getty, Reuters and AFP, did the same on Sunday.

Shortly before Kate害羞草研究所檚 statement was issued on Monday, Britain害羞草研究所檚 national news agency said it was following suit. PA said it had asked Kensington Palace for clarification about the image and 害羞草研究所渋n the absence of that clarification, we are killing the image from our picture service.害羞草研究所�

Kensington Palace said it would not release the original unedited photograph. And while Kate害羞草研究所檚 statement provided a measure of clarification, it looked unlikely to stop the swirl of rumor that has accelerated during her absence from public duties.

Former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said the mishandled photo release 害羞草研究所渋s damaging for the royals.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭hey knew there would be intense interest in any picture they released of Kate,害羞草研究所� he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. 害羞草研究所淭heir challenge is that people will now question whether they can be trusted and believed when they next issue a health update.害羞草研究所�

The royal family is under particular scrutiny because has also had to cancel public duties while he undergoes treatment for an unspecified form of cancer. The monarch has canceled all his public engagements, though he has been photographed walking to church and meeting privately with government officials and dignitaries.

Charles害羞草研究所� relative openness about his diagnosis was a departure for the generally secretive royal family. But it has been eclipsed in popular interest by curiosity over Kate害羞草研究所檚 condition. In the absence of firm information, conspiracy theories have rushed to fill the vacuum.

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 surgery. She hadn害羞草研究所檛 been seen publicly since Christmas Day.

Kate, 42, underwent surgery Jan. 16 and her condition and the reason for the operation have not been revealed, though Kensington Palace 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 害羞草研究所� March 31 this year 害羞草研究所� it followed up with a statement last month by saying she was doing well and reiterating its previous statement.

害羞草研究所淜ensington Palace made it clear in January the timelines of the princess害羞草研究所� recovery and we害羞草研究所檇 only be providing significant updates,害羞草研究所� the palace said Feb. 29. 害羞草研究所淭hat guidance stands.害羞草研究所�

At the time, royal aides told The Sun newspaper: 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e 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.害羞草研究所�

Further questions were raised last week when the British military seemed to jump the gun in announcing Kate would attend a ceremony in June, apparently without consulting palace officials.

It害羞草研究所檚 up to palace officials, not government departments, to announce the royals害羞草研究所� attendance at events. Kensington Palace didn害羞草研究所檛 confirm any scheduled public events for Kate, and the army later removed reference to her attendance.

Veteran public relations consultant Mark Borkowski said the photo gaffe exposed a wider PR problem for the monarchy.

害羞草研究所淭here doesn害羞草研究所檛 seem to be that much joined-up strategic thinking at the heart of the royal family at the moment, which leads to these problems where it害羞草研究所檚 a very difficult organization to manage in terms of PR,害羞草研究所� he said.

READ ALSO: Princess of Wales appears in 1st photo since surgery amid wild speculation