In a shocking revelation, the global news director of Agence France-Presse (AFP), Phil Chetwynd, has condemned Kensington Palace, labeling it as an untrustworthy source in the aftermath of the photo-editing controversy involving Kate Middleton.
This scathing criticism has deepened the crisis surrounding the royal residence and raised concerns about the integrity of information emanating from its corridors.
Kate Middleton’s botched photo: Kensington Palace is “no longer a trusted source.”
Controversy erupted when it was discovered that the Princess of Wales had edited a family photograph shared on Mother’s Day.
A photograph that would have put an end to the rumors and conspiracies surrounding Kate’s health, but the story went further awry.
This revelation prompted news agencies to take swift action, pulling the shot and demanding an explanation from Kensington Palace.
However, according to Chetwynd, the palace remained unresponsive to their requests for the original photograph, leading agencies to take the unprecedented step of “killing” the picture.
In the interview for BBC Radio 4’s The Media Show, Chetwynd expressed dismay when asked if the palace was “a trusted source,” to which he responded:
“No, absolutely not. Like with anything, when you’re let down by a source, the bar is raised.”
His remarks highlighted the severe consequences of breaching trust, particularly in the realm of news reporting, where credibility is paramount.
Chetwynd further emphasized the rarity of such occurrences, noting that the removal of photographs due to manipulation is an exceptionally rare event.
“The previous kills have been from the North Korean news agency or the Iranian news agency, just to give you some background and context,” he added, underscoring the gravity of Kensington Palace’s actions.
Phil Chetwynd’s scathing comments have caused shockwaves in royal circles, calling into question the palace’s ability to maintain transparency around Kate Middleton’s health.
It is now up to Kensington Palace to regain the trust of the media and the public.