Kate Middleton is pictured leaving Windsor Castle in car with William as she heads for ‘private appointment’ – while Prince makes his way to Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey
Mail Online
PR expert Mark Borkowski said: ‘It’s plausible she’s at home playing with the computer and using an AI tool, but if they’re really going to regain any sort of trust they should release the unedited photo, it can’t be that bad if they just made a few tweaks.
‘I find they have risen to the challenge, provided the statement as an explanation – the question is with all the conspiracy theories running around, is whether people believe it and I’m not sure they will.’
Mr Borkowski said the Mother’s Day photo had exposed a public relations problem for the monarchy: ‘That’s the issue, there doesn’t seem to be that much joined up strategic thinking at the heart of the Royal Family at the moment, which leads to these problems where it’s a very difficult organisation to manage in terms of PR.’
READ MORE: LIZ JONES: The Palace can no longer be trusted. They think we are all stupid. Now we are thinking: did Kate even write the message? Is she too ill?
He added: ‘It’s a nightmare, even the softer stories of Edward turning 60 this week haven’t really resonated at all because no one’s interested in them, they’re interested in the stars they’re not interested in the supporting cast and that is a problem at the moment.
‘They are under pressure, massively under pressure, this is a massive own goal.’
Kate Middleton’s photo editing blunder creates chaos for royals as pals defend ‘innocent snap
Daily Record
The Wales family often shares their own photos, usually taken by Kate, to celebrate special events like their children’s birthdays but now, people are wondering if – or how much – these images have been changed before.
PR and crisis expert Mark Borkowski said this mess-up was a “massive own goal” and suggested that the original photo should be shared to rebuild trust. He commented: “It’s possible she’s at home playing with the computer and using an AI tool, but if they’re really going to regain any sort of trust they should release the unedited photo, it can’t be that bad if they just made a few tweaks. I find they have risen to the challenge, provided the statement as an explanation – the question is with all the conspiracy theories running around, is whether people believe it and I’m not sure that they will, reports the Mirror.
“Mr Borkowski said the Mother’s Day photo had revealed a public relations issue for the monarchy: “That’s the problem, there doesn’t seem to be that much joined up strategic thinking at the heart of the Royal family at the moment, which leads to these problems where it’s a very difficult organisation to manage in terms of PR. They are under pressure, massively under pressure, this is a massive own goal.”
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity/kate-middletons-photo-editing-blunder-32333322
Kate, the photo and trying to solve the conspiracy theory crisis
Sky News
Kill notices are uncommon and usually due to issues with copyright or journalistic process – and this has never happened to a royal picture.
On this edition of the Sky News Daily, Sarah-Jane Mee speaks to Adam Parker from our data and forensics unit, who reveals what the team have learned after analysing the photo’s metadata.
Plus, PR expert Mark Borkowski on whether this has fanned rather than extinguished online rumours, and our royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills on where this leaves the royal family.
https://news.sky.com/story/kate-the-photo-and-trying-to-solve-the-conspiracy-theory-crisis-13092747
Palace urged to release unedited Kate Middleton photo and end conspiracy theory nightmare
The Mirror
Now, public relations and crisis consultant Mark Borkowski said about Kate’s statement: “It’s plausible she’s at home playing with the computer and using an AI tool, but if they’re really going to regain any sort of trust they should release the unedited photo, it can’t be that bad if they just made a few tweaks.
“I find they have risen to the challenge, provided the statement as an explanation – the question is with all the conspiracy theories running around, is whether people believe it and I’m not sure that they will.”
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/royals/palace-urged-release-unedited-kate-32325205
Palace dismay as attempt to dispel Princess of Wales rumours misfires
The Guardian
A Kensington Palace source sought to dampen down the row by stressing the princess had made only “minor adjustments”.
Mark Borkowski, a public relations and crisis consultant, described it as a “massive own goal”. Of Kate’s statement, he said: “It’s plausible she’s at home playing with the computer and using an AI tool, but if they’re really going to regain any sort of trust they should release the unedited photo. It can’t be that bad if they just made a few tweaks.
“I find they have risen to the challenge, provided the statement as an explanation – the question is, with all the conspiracy theories running around, whether people believe it, and I’m not sure that they will.”
Kensington Palace said it would not be issuing the unedited photograph. The couple will be hoping Kate’s statement is enough, and will want to move quickly on.
Kate issues public apology as she takes blame for digitally altered photo
Independent
Public relations and crisis consultant Mark Borkowski called the fiasco a “massive own goal” and said the unedited photograph should be released to regain trust.
He told the PA news agency “It’s plausible she’s at home playing with the computer and using an AI tool, but if they’re really going to regain any sort of trust they should release the unedited photo, it can’t be that bad if they just made a few tweaks.
“I find they have risen to the challenge, provided the statement as an explanation – the question is with all the conspiracy theories running around, is whether people believe it and I’m not sure that they will.”
Mr Borkowski said the Mother’s Day photo had exposed a public relations problem for the monarchy: “That’s the issue, there doesn’t seem to be that much joined up strategic thinking at the heart of the royal family at the moment, which leads to these problems where it’s a very difficult organisation to manage in terms of PR.”
He added: “It’s a nightmare, even the softer stories of Edward turning 60 this week haven’t really resonated at all because no one’s interested in them, they’re interested in the stars they’re not interested in the supporting cast and that is a problem at the moment.
“They are under pressure, massively under pressure, this is a massive own goal.”
Kate Middleton’s private appointment as William attends service
Gloucestershire Live
William and Kate have an established track record of issuing their own photographs, often taken by Kate rather than William, to mark special occasions including their children’s birthdays. But the princess’s confession raises questions over whether – or to what extent – the images have been altered in the past.
Public relations and crisis consultant Mark Borkowski called the fiasco a “massive own goal” and said the unedited photograph should be released to regain trust.
He told the PA news agency: “It’s plausible she’s at home playing with the computer and using an AI tool, but if they’re really going to regain any sort of trust they should release the unedited photo, it can’t be that bad if they just made a few tweaks. I find they have risen to the challenge, provided the statement as an explanation – the question is with all the conspiracy theories running around, is whether people believe it and I’m not sure that they will.”
Kate ‘saddened’ by furore over her altered family photograph
Belfast Telegraph
After Monday’s apology, Kate was seen leaving Windsor in a car with William as he was driven to the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey. The princess was understood to have been going to a private appointment.
Public relations and crisis consultant Mark Borkowski described the photograph as a “massive own goal” and said the unedited photograph should be released to regain trust.
He said: “It’s plausible she’s at home playing with the computer and using an AI tool, but if they’re really going to regain any sort of trust they should release the unedited photo. It can’t be that bad if they just made a few tweaks.
“I find they have risen to the challenge, provided the statement as an explanation, [but] the question is, with all the conspiracy theories running around, whether people believe it and I’m not sure that they will.”
Mr Borkowski said it had exposed a public relations problem for the monarchy: “That’s the issue: there doesn’t seem to be that much joined-up, strategic thinking at the heart of the royal family at the moment, which leads to these problems where it’s a very difficult organisation to manage in terms of PR.”
Mark Borkowski, British Public Relations expert, warns of the consequences of Kate Middleton’s photo
euro.ESEuro
‘People’ magazine has contacted Mark Borkowski, a renowned public relations and communications expert based in London to analyze this case. Mark speaks in the aforementioned publication of the concerns that the English people have about the Princess’s state of health. However, he points out that with this act he has not managed to calm them, “in fact, has made them worse”. In this way, she expresses the general unrest in the British country in a very forceful way.
But the expert goes further. “Now some people are wondering if everything is AI-generated or a photo taken in Photoshop. It’s not something you want the real brand to be aligned with,” he points out. However, he is also aware that Kate has done what anyone else does on her social media sites by retouching an image. However, it must be taken into account that she will be the future queen of the British country and their actions are more looked at and analyzed than everyone else’s, even though she probably did it to look spectacular in her first public image.
Kensington Palace refuses to release original Kate Middleton photo after botched editing job
Page Six
According to the outlet, the royal family has felt “increasing pressure” to release the unedited version of the photo, with PR experts arguing that it needs to happen in order to regain the public’s trust.
Still, Kensington Palace has said it will not be releasing the pic – despite ongoing conspiracy theories about Middleton’s whereabouts post-surgery and claims that she heavily used Photoshop or an AI tool to doctor the image.
“It’s plausible [Kate’s] at home playing with the computer and using an AI tool, but if they’re really going to regain any sort of trust they should release the unedited photo, it can’t be that bad if they just made a few tweaks,” PR expert Mark Borkowski told the Daily Mail.
“I find they have risen to the challenge, provided the statement as an explanation – the question is with all the conspiracy theories running around, is whether people believe it and I’m not sure that they will.”
Kensington Palace under pressure to release original Kate Mother’s Day photo after Princess admits she edited the picture – as PR experts call fiasco a ‘massive own goal’ and warn officials need to regain the public’s trust
Daily Mail
While the princess publicly took the blame for altering the photo, Kensington Palace said it would not be reissuing the unedited photograph of Kate and her children.
PR expert Mark Borkowski said: ‘It’s plausible she’s at home playing with the computer and using an AI tool, but if they’re really going to regain any sort of trust they should release the unedited photo, it can’t be that bad if they just made a few tweaks.
‘I find they have risen to the challenge, provided the statement as an explanation – the question is with all the conspiracy theories running around, is whether people believe it and I’m not sure that they will.’
Mr Borkowski said the Mother’s Day photo had exposed a public relations problem for the monarchy: ‘That’s the issue, there doesn’t seem to be that much joined up strategic thinking at the heart of the royal family at the moment, which leads to these problems where it’s a very difficult organisation to manage in terms of PR.’
He added: ‘It’s a nightmare, even the softer stories of Edward turning 60 this week haven’t really resonated at all because no one’s interested in them, they’re interested in the stars they’re not interested in the supporting cast and that is a problem at the moment.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13182833/Palace-refuses-release-original-Kate-Mothers-Day-photo.html
Public relations and crisis consultant Mark Borkowski called the fiasco a “massive own goal” and said the unedited photograph should be released to regain trust.
Ilkley Gazette
He told the PA news agency “It’s plausible she’s at home playing with the computer and using an AI tool, but if they’re really going to regain any sort of trust they should release the unedited photo, it can’t be that bad if they just made a few tweaks.
“I find they have risen to the challenge, provided the statement as an explanation – the question is with all the conspiracy theories running around, is whether people believe it and I’m not sure that they will.”
Mr Borkowski said the Mother’s Day photo had exposed a public relations problem for the monarchy: “That’s the issue, there doesn’t seem to be that much joined up strategic thinking at the heart of the royal family at the moment, which leads to these problems where it’s a very difficult organisation to manage in terms of PR.”
He added: “It’s a nightmare, even the softer stories of Edward turning 60 this week haven’t really resonated at all because no one’s interested in them, they’re interested in the stars they’re not interested in the supporting cast and that is a problem at the moment.
“They are under pressure, massively under pressure, this is a massive own goal.”
Kensington Palace faces calls from experts to release unedited picture of Kate Middleton and kids
Heart
“And there is that crucial little word: ‘candid’. This has blown up into a major media storm because people feel the royal family – who also double up as an institution of state – are not being honest with them. And if you can’t trust Kensington Palace, then who can you trust? To make this go away the Palace need to release the original picture. The integrity of our future King and Queen is at stake.”
Also weighing into the request from the Palace is public relations and crisis consultant Mark Borkowski who told the Metro: “It’s plausible she’s at home playing with the computer and using an AI tool, but if they’re really going to regain any sort of trust they should release the unedited photo, it can’t be that bad if they just made a few tweaks.”
He added: “I find they have risen to the challenge, provided the statement as an explanation – the question is with all the conspiracy theories running around, is whether people believe it and I’m not sure that they will.”
https://www.heart.co.uk/news/kate-middleton-unedited-picture-calls-release/
Kate Middleton’s Photo Controversy Is ‘Pretty Damning,’ Says U.K. PR Expert (Exclusive)
Yahoo
Over the weekend, photo agencies pulled the Mother’s Day image of the Princess of Wales, 42, who is recovering from abdominal surgery, and her children, citing concerns about manipulation. Princess Kate apologized in a personal statement released on Monday, saying, “Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused.”
Mark Borkowski, a London-based public relations and crisis communications expert, tells PEOPLE that in trying to share a new image with the public, the palace hasn’t calmed concerns — “in fact, it’s made it worse.”
“Now some people are asking if it is all generated by AI or is it a Photoshop of a photo taken. It’s not something you’d want the royal brand to be aligned with,” he says.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/kate-middletons-photo-controversy-pretty-183740455.html
Altered Photo of Princess of Wales Sparks Uproar
The Wall Street Journal
Experts say details are consistent with an amateur splicing together different images from the same session to make a nice family portrait
https://www.wsj.com/world/uk/kate-middleton-altered-photo-princess-of-wales-07920f5e
Princess of Wales says she edited family photo recalled by picture agencies
The Guardian
Mark Borkowski, a public relations consultant, called the photo fiasco a “massive own goal” and said the unedited image should be released to regain trust.
The independent factchecking website Full Fact said it exemplified how greater transparency was crucial in preserving trust in images online.
“In today’s information environment, any manipulation of an image, even relatively minor edits done with no intention to mislead, can raise suspicions,” said its chief executive, Chris Morris. “The rapid spread of image manipulation tools has changed the rules of the game. Conspiracy theories thrive in information vacuums, so if you want to be trusted, you have to be transparent.”
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/mar/11/princess-wales-says-her-edited-family-photo
Kate, Princess of Wales, apologizes for altering family photo that fueled rumors about her health
The Portland Press Herald
Kate, Princess of Wales, apologizes for altering family photo that fueled rumors about her health
Veteran public relations consultant Mark Borkowski said the photo gaffe exposed a wider PR problem for the monarchy.
“There doesn’t seem to be that much joined-up strategic thinking at the heart of the royal family at the moment, which leads to these problems where it’s a very difficult organization to manage in terms of PR,” he said.
“I find they have risen to the challenge, provided the statement as an explanation,” he said of Kate’s apology Monday. “The question is, with all the conspiracy theories running around, is whether people believe it. And I’m not sure that they will.”
Kate Middleton’s Photo Controversy Is Pretty Damning Says U.K. PR Expert
People
Mark Borkowski, a London-based public relations and crisis communications expert, tells PEOPLE that in trying to share a new image with the public, the palace hasn’t calmed concerns — “in fact, it’s made it worse.”
“Now some people are asking if it is all generated by AI or is it a Photoshop of a photo taken. It’s not something you’d want the royal brand to be aligned with,” he says.
A palace insider downplayed the PR crisis, telling PEOPLE exclusively that although the situation is a “bump in the road, it’s not an earthquake.”
“[Kate] has apologized and graciously so,” the insider says. “She has done something that 99% of us do — and we don’t have the scrutiny that they do.”
“Think of the level of scrutiny of pictures of her, as people pore over them,” the insider continues. “You’re always on display and always got to be perfect.”
The insider adds, “She might be a member of the royal family, but she’s also a human being. If you’ve just had an operation, you want to look your best with the first photograph that’s published for the outside world.”
Borkowski points out that while the royal family’s policy was “never complain, never explain” during Queen Elizabeth’s reign, “The royals have got themselves cornered by giving some level of information but never enough.” He adds this “halfway” approach “has resulted in this rather unfortunate photo driving a story where perhaps it would normally be shrugged off.”
The North Face’s initiative to tackle ‘systemic racism’ in hiking
The Times
Mark Borkowski, a PR expert, said the inclusion course initiative was part of a pattern of brands, particularly those with younger customers, embracing social justice causes. He said: “If The North Face are going deeper into this, they know that this is going to resonate with their audience. You are attuned to what your audience wants.
“It’s true that a millennial and a Gen Z market want the brands to stand for something — for values they think are important. There is a profound and noisy generation, a young demographic, being very voluble about what they feel.
“A brand isn’t just reflecting what their audience is — it’s taking a progressive lead in being suggestive. That is part of the role of a brand now.”
Borkowski said a defining feature of whether a company’s progressive push would work or would make the brand subject to ridicule was authenticity.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-north-face-systemic-racism-hiking-jxxqwpvmz
How the Red Bull debacle has shaken Formula One – and why Christian Horner isn’t out of the woods
The Telegraph
Yet Mark Borkowski, one of the UK’s most experienced PR advisers, thinks we might all be looking through the wrong end of the telescope.
“F1 is a global sport and the average F1 fan in Spain, Italy or Saudi Arabia doesn’t care about this,” he said. “Red Bull has always been a maverick and it’s a very male sport.”