Kate Middleton, on the other hand, has not been seen in ages in public, and that has whipped up a lot of conspiracy theorists into a frenzy. "Every photograph that has ever been released, ever since the Princess of Wales admitted to a major editing fudge in her Mother's Day image with coach George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte, has been released under intense scrutiny." A more recent spotting of the forty-two-year-old and Prince William wanted to put all the rumors of disappearance to rest, but in some corners of the Internet, doubt ensued.

Some bloggers went so far as to say the pictures were fake, for example, stating her face was partly covered and the colors of the bricks could not be true when two shades hinted from the windows of the cars. There were comments about the six-wheel car being so odd.

Some theorists suggested that the photos might have been doctored, as they were said to be from Christmas 2023 and probably manipulated. Yet the storm was the photographer of the controversial photo, with the caption that his agency does not alter photos other than adjusting light levels.

In a very uncharacteristic move, Middleton later issued a statement over edits on the family photograph to say that she herself would only occasionally edit photos she takes herself, and she wished everybody well for Sunday.

Efforts to clear up doubts about the authenticity of the portrait were not so convincing, as the issue still stands. It speaks to the high level of scrutiny that public figures, like Middleton, get today.