The internet was abuzz with speculation after Getty Images, the renowned photo agency, placed an unexpected editor’s note on the viral video of Princess Kate Middleton revealing her cancer diagnosis.
This move left many royal watchers and media outlets perplexed, wondering what prompted such an unusual step from the esteemed organization.
Getty Images editor’s note on Kate Middleton video
The video in question, released by Kensington Palace on March 22, 2024, showed a visibly emotional Princess Kate disclosing her cancer diagnosis and the upcoming chemotherapy treatment she would undergo.
The heartbreaking announcement sent shockwaves throughout the world, with an outpouring of support and well-wishes for the beloved royal.
“I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have been recovering from surgery. It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful.”
In the video, Kate shed light on the challenges she and her family have faced during her absence after undergoing major abdominal surgery in January.
“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”
In her powerful statement, Kate acknowledges the immense emotional toll this journey has taken on her family.
“This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok.”
Despite the difficulties, Kate’s spirits are buoyed by the exceptional care of her medical team and the unwavering support of her husband, Prince William.
“As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits. Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.”
Kate asked her followers for time, space and privacy to focus on her full recovery.
“We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.”
She also extended her thoughts and empathy to all those affected by cancer.
“At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.”
However, days after the video’s release, Getty Images added an editor’s note that read:
“This Handout clip was provided by a third-party organization and may not adhere to Getty Images’ editorial policy.”
This cryptic message immediately raised eyebrows and sparked speculation about the agency’s motivations.
In an attempt to clarify the situation, Getty Images issued a statement to E! News, explaining that the editor’s note was a “standard” practice for content provided by third-party organizations.
However, this explanation did little to quell the curiosity and confusion surrounding the decision.
Some media analysts speculated that the editor’s note might be related to Getty Images’ strict editorial policies, which aim to maintain the highest standards of journalistic integrity.
It’s possible that the agency felt compelled to add the note to distance itself from the video’s content or production methods, although the specifics remain unclear.
Others suggested that the editor’s note could be a precautionary measure taken by Getty Images to avoid potential legal or ethical issues that might arise from distributing sensitive content without proper context or disclaimers.
Getty Images editor’s note comes on the heels of Kate Middleton’s Mother’s Day photo editing scandal.
The said editing errors sparked a series of speculations and conspiracies online.
Several news agencies then received a “Mandatory Kill” to take down the image.
Kate, for her part, was forced to apologize:
“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. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day. C.”
However, this wasn’t the only photo that has attracted attention.
Getty Images also added an editor’s note to the photograph Kate had taken of the late Queen Elizabeth II with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the summer of 2022.
The agency specified that the photo was “digitally enhanced at source.”
Kate began preventive treatment for cancer.