William and Kate ‘intend to release new family photo to mark Prince Louis’ birthday next month’ – as friends reveal Princess of Wales could discuss her health issues at a pubic engagement after being left ‘devastated and shaken’ by photoshop backlash

Kate Middleton could address the mystery surrounding her health at an upcoming public engagement next month, her close friends have said.

The Princess of Wales has been largely unseen since undergoing major stomach surgery on January 17, leading to a tsunami of speculation over her unknown state of health.

She then publicly took the blame for the family photo released by Kensington Palace on Mother’s Day, prompting six of the world’s top picture agencies, including the Press Association, to pull the photo from their wires and libraries over concerns that ‘the source has manipulated the image’.

Despite these tumultuous weeks for the royal family, it is expected that they will still maintain the tradition of releasing a new photograph to mark their children’s birthdays, the next being Prince Louis on 23 April.

“They value the public’s love and affection for their children and know there is a public appetite to see them on their birthdays,” an aide told the Sunday Times.

Kate posted the apology on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Instagram account

Although it is understood that no ‘firm decision’ has been made as the couple have been rocked following the hysteria surrounding Kate’s health, along with the wild and unfounded conspiracy theories on social media about the state of her marriage due to the ‘missing wedding ring’.

A source close to Kate claimed that all she intended to do was “bring a bit of joy” and release a reassuring picture to thank the public for their continued support.

Another friend insists it was just someone trying to project the polished image the public has come to expect: ‘It’s a picture she knew everyone would look at so she scrutinized it herself – she likes to try to make the family look their best. they can.’

Earlier this week, Kate made the unexpected decision to publicly take responsibility for the mishap and issue a personal apology on Instagram: “Like many amateur photographers, I occasionally experiment with editing,” she wrote.

A friend and adviser to the couple said: ‘If you want to highlight the mistake, it was Kate who didn’t tell her team that she had done it (edited the photo).

But she came out and said sorry. The picture was a misstep, even with something as innocent as you having to reveal to change it.

‘But in the history of image cropping and photo altering to tell a story, much of the response from image agencies was hypocritical.’

Prince and Princess of Wales with their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in Norfolk

William and Kate were seen leaving Windsor for Westminster Abbey to attend the Commonwealth Day Service

Now royal sources are warning of the negative impact rumors could have on the future queen as she recovers from major surgery in January.

An insider said: ‘I worry about all this attention on Catherine. She didn’t look happy at all in the car on Monday.’

Kate was seen in the back seat of a car with her husband as he left Windsor to travel to London for two public engagements.

The Mail understands she was on her way to a ‘private appointment’ and did not accompany William in public.

Despite calls for the original image to be published, Kensington Palace insisted it would not re-release the unedited photograph of Kate and her children.

It comes after further details emerged about the photo session, which saw William take the picture in just a 40-minute window on Friday, before the princess edited it twice in Photoshop to ‘make it the best it could be’.

The Prince of Wales took the picture of his smiling family on a £2,900 Canon camera before Kate made edits to improve the image ahead of its public release on Instagram on Sunday.

Royal commentator Jennie Bond suggested that Kate ‘must be feeling under intense pressure now to be seen in public’ following her major operation in January.

Today also met royal expert Angela Levin, who praised her for being ‘respectable’.