The Princess of Wales has been “thrown under a bus” – and her husband was “unbelievable” in putting the “burden” on her to take the blame for the Mother’s Day photo blunder – a royal expert has said.
This was told by the Daily Mail’s diary editor Richard Eden Palace confidential that Kensington officials behaved ‘arguably’ after Kate Middleton shared a statement on social media apologizing ‘for any confusion’ the picture, published on Sunday, had caused.
“I’m just so sad and a bit frustrated about it all because I feel so sorry for Catherine,” he told Jo Elvin and Richard Kay.
“Basically she’s been under so much pressure from people saying ‘we want a picture, we want to know how she feels, tell us how she feels’, that sort of thing.
“And she finally issues this photograph, it’s taken by Prince William – they make that clear when they issue the photograph.
Daily Mail diary editor Richard Eden (pictured) told Palace Confidential that Kensington officials were behaving ‘arguably’
“It’s nothing personal, it’s issued by Kensington Palace’s communications people and then she’s been thrown under a bus.”
Richard said that Kate was either forced or agreed to publish the personally signed statement.
“I think it’s shameful,” he continued. “It is very unheard of for Prince William to put the burden on her. For God’s sake, he’s the one who took the picture.
‘And the officials made it public. They gave it out, that’s their job. I find it absolutely disgraceful that they have told her “you go and explain what you did”. No, that’s your job.
“Take some responsibility.”
Richard also slammed the advisers surrounding the Prince and Princess of Wales, saying they needed ‘good and strong’ people around them.
“You don’t want pathetic ‘yes men’,” he said. ‘Here they would certainly benefit from having stronger officials and it wouldn’t surprise me if heads roll over this, if not now… then finally.’
But Richard Kay said later on the show that it would be unclear what the extent of the internal fallout is at this stage.
It comes as – in a stunning move, the royal admitted on Monday that she ‘edited’ a picture showing her celebrating Mothering Sunday with her children
But Richard Kay (right) said later in the show that it would be unclear what the extent of the internal fallout is at this stage
“Heads could roll, heads have rolled for minor offenses I’ve seen over the years,” he added.
‘Stakel’s unfortunate press people have been given their marching orders, but it seems a bit unfair to put it all on the servants if you like.’
Richard Eden also expressed that he is not convinced that Kate was behind the photo-editing blunder, admitting that the whole situation felt ‘weird’.
“I think on this occasion maybe instead of asking her husband they could have invited a photographer in,” he continued.
“I mean, it looks like maybe someone came in to help do some sort of hair and make-up and stuff… so maybe a hairdresser came in, so one of the the very talented photographers could have come in.”
It comes as – in a stunning move, the royal admitted on Monday that she ‘edited’ a picture showing her celebrating Mothering Sunday with her children.
The princess said in a rare personal message on X, formerly known as Twitter, that she ‘occasionally experimented’ as an ‘amateur photographer’.
She apologized for any “confusion” the photograph had caused after six global image agencies sensationally pulled the image from their wires and libraries – an unprecedented response to an official royal photograph – amid concerns that “the source has tampered with the image”.
Kate also posted the apology on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Instagram account following the furore
The agencies’ kill announcements added fuel to the fire as a number of conspiracy theories continue to swirl about Kate’s health.
There were questions about everything from why Princess Charlotte’s wrist didn’t fit the sleeve of her cardigan, to Prince Louis’ strange fingers.
The photograph of Kate and her children, taken by Prince William at the family home in Windsor on Friday, was the first to be released since her stomach operation in January.
Although the couple have regularly posted something personal to mark Mother’s Day, it was hoped the image could also quell vicious speculation on social media about the nature of the princess’s condition.
Instead, the royal blunder resulted in another public explosion of conspiracy theories.
The princess publicly took the blame for the furore, writing: ‘Like many amateur photographers, I occasionally experiment with editing.
‘I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion caused by the family photo we shared yesterday.
The row overshadowed Monday’s Coronation Day service at Westminster Abbey, which was led by Queen Camilla (left) for the first time – accompanied by Prince William (right)
‘I hope everyone who celebrated had a very happy Mother’s Day. C.’
Kensington Palace said it would not re-release the unedited photograph of Kate and her children, which itself sparked further debate.
Earlier this week, the palace faced growing pressure over the debacle, with claims it has damaged public trust. The row overshadowed Monday’s Coronation Day service at Westminster Abbey, which was led by Queen Camilla for the first time – accompanied by Prince William – in the king’s absence as he undergoes cancer treatment. His Majesty instead recorded a video message for the first time.
Kate was also seen on the day in the back seat of a car with her husband as he left Windsor to travel to London for two public engagements. It is understood she was on her way to a ‘private appointment’ and did not accompany William in public.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline that her “sudden appearance is not a dignified response” to what has happened.
He said: ‘When journalists have said they want to “see” Catherine, nobody, as I understand it, meant it that way. A sudden appearance like she just made is a knee drop which lacks what the royals should have, which is dignity.
The Princess of Wales has been ‘thrown under a bus’ after her husband was ‘unbelievable’ by putting the ‘burden’ on her to take the blame for the Mother’s Day photo blunder, Richard Eden has said. The couple pictured in November
‘This business has also overshadowed Commonwealth Day. There should never have been two and a half months where she seemed to disappear, we should have occasionally felt that we were in touch, while it was important that she felt that she had maintained her privacy.
‘William and Catherine are under enormous pressure, which is particularly terrible if you have been seriously ill as she has. But the error in editing the photograph, while extremely embarrassing, is not a major accident.
‘What it shows is that she looks good again and her children look very happy. But their current handling of public relations is potentially dangerous.
“What the small but growing number of republicans want is to mock the monarchy.
“While Queen Elizabeth was alive this was almost impossible. Ill health and the crises affecting the Sussexes and Yorks have given them a good opportunity. Public relations at the palaces should be responsive and disciplined, which they clearly are not. William and Catherine are the world’s most glamorous and high-profile royal couple.
‘They need dignity to continue to do good for their charities and project soft power like no one else can for Britain.
‘They need to put this embarrassing episode behind them and appear publicly confident. It will take time and common sense, keep in touch, the people will react…’