Image of Queen Elizabeth II was ‘digitally enhanced at source’, Getty picture agency says

A photograph of the late Queen, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, was “digitally enhanced at source”, according to Getty Images.

The picture agency says it has added an editor’s note to the image, which was shared by Kensington Palace in April 2023 on what would have been the late Queen’s 97th birthday.

The palace shared the picture on 21 April last year, saying it was taken by the Princess of Wales at Balmoral in the summer of 2022.

In a statement, Getty said: “Getty Images can confirm that in accordance with its editorial policy it has placed an editor’s note on a handout image stating the image has been digitally enhanced at source.”

The decision follows picture agencies issuing a “kill notice” for a photo released on Mother’s Day by the Princess of Wales. She later admitted to editing the image.

Major international picture agencies pulled the photograph amid concerns “the source had manipulated the image” after people cited several peculiarities, including issues with Princess Charlotte’s sleeve, the uneven pattern on Prince Louis’s jumper and the window frame behind Prince George.