Above, a photograph that is said to be of HRH Catherine, Princess of Wales taken on Monday 4th March 2024.
The BG has always regarded itself as a serious blog and not one that seeks to boost it’s circulation by indulging in trivia. Indulging in trivia is a highly effective, tried and tested and proven way of boosting circulation and/or number of listeners/readers/viewers.
Thus, whilst such as my friend Richard North opines on a serious current affairs issue in his blog-post today (https://www.turbulenttimes.co.uk/news/front-page/politics-beyond-salvation/), it will inevitably be the case that by blogging about “that photograph” many will accuse me of just that!
What caused me to decide to enter this particular media briar patch was the US YouTube broadcaster, Ms Megyn Kelly. Ms Kelly drew her audience’s attention to something potentially very disturbing. Her broadcast is in total 1 hour and 40 minutes long but the part that I am focusing on is a section here which runs for 2 minutes and 30 seconds below:
IF what is suggested has taken place this of course begs the question why and of course will lead to even more wild speculation.
Herewith an online US media outlet on the same matter:
To get another opinion I draw your attention Dear Reader to this source (https://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/kate-middleton-suspected-of-using-2016-vogue-cover-to-edit-post-surgery-family-portrait-223247308.html) – I quote:
“TJ Thomson, visual media and communication expert at RMIT University, shared that he isn’t convinced the Vogue theory is 100 per cent accurate. ‘I overlaid the Vogue cover on top of the Instagram image and think there are some similarities, but it’s not, in my estimation, an exact match. Perhaps something like an 80-90 per cent overlap?’”
My comment: At one point in my life I was a professional photographer but that was in the days of film not digital. My ability with image editing software is pretty basic. However, I know enough to know that to undertake the edit that is suggested using a picture from 2016 to pose as a photograph taken on Mothering Sunday 2024 is not a minor use of editing software and would require someone with a considerable expertise and not as HRH has admitted someone dabbling as a beginner.
Then of course there is speculation by some that the photograph at the top of this blog-post is not of HRH but another, possibly her sister Mrs Pippa Matthews or a “body double”.
Speculation about the use of a “body double” – something routinely undertaken (with considerable success) by governments – is of course landing us in the realms of wild conspiracy theories.
Let me begin by offering up my “take” on what has happened: HRH was indeed unwell and did indeed undergo a procedure just as the Palace has described. That HRH has decided to take an extended break from her public duties in order to do two things:
#1: To recover and recuperate and,
#2: To “take a break” and to devote her time to her three young children.
Many like to pontificate that the Royals have an easy life and that doing what they do is a very pleasant and easy existence. It is NOT. It is demanding not just physically but mentally due to the incessant attention the public demand.
Therefore the most likely (IMHO) explanation is that HRH is taking the opportunity her illness has presented to tale some “time out” to “spend more time with her family” and that the furore over the Mothers Day image is just a storm in a Kensington Palace teacup!
HOWEVER: IF Page Six dot com’s suggestions are in fact the case and that the 2016 has indeed been used to produce the Mothers Day image asking “Why?” is inevitable!
Ms Kelly in her broadcast speculated that HRH MIGHT be suffering from Crohn’s Disease and abdominal surgery if necessary can result in the use of a colostomy bag. IF this is the case with HRH, it would indeed be a justifiable and valid reason for the photographic deception and HRH’s non appearance in public. In such circumstances this MIGHT be the reason for the photo-shopping. Let us face it, having to use a colostomy bag is a very burdensome and distressing matter and one that most would wish to keep private.
It is to be very much hoped that whatever HRH is suffering from she makes a full recovery and is back in the public eye this summer with her troubles behind her.
It is however concerning that IF the one of the sources of the withdrawn image was the 2016 Vogue shot it still begs the question, “Why?” for such would not be necessary to cover up the use of a colostomy bag.
The present situation of course will do nothing to dampen the more speculative suggestions.
One thing that we can do with this post is to raise awareness of Crohn’s Disease which is clearly a most distressing condition that blights it’s sufferers which in the developed world appear to be increasing.
The UK charity can be found online here: https://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/
The US charity can be found here: https://rarediseases.org/organizations/crohns-and-colitis-foundation-of-america/