‘Kategate’ photo editing row is yet more evidence that we need to ditch the Royal family
We’re barely three months into 2024 and already it’s not been a good year for the royals.
From the King’s cancer diagnosis and the sudden death of Thomas Kingston to the cagey absence of Prince William at his godfather’s funeral and Camilla’s holiday due to ‘exhaustion’, the UK’s most famous family has had a torrid last 12 weeks.
But now, they are in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
Kategate, the photo editing comms disaster that broke over the weekend, threatens to further damage their image and hit the Monarchy’s already falling support.
It’s been noted by more than one commentator that the royals have long relied on manipulation of their image, yet it’s rarely been so literal as late Sunday when it was revealed that the major news agencies were withdrawing that Mothers’ Day photo of Kate with her children due to concerns that it had been ‘manipulated’.
The surprise wasn’t only that they used a doctored image, but that they did it so badly.
Kate has since put out a ‘personal statement’ via the official account for the Prince and Princess of Wales that has raised more questions than it answered.
Apparently, Kate ‘occasionally experiments’ with editing photos. But this isn’t Kate’s photo.
It was taken by William and sent out via their press operation, not shared by Wills via his personal WhatsApp group. So why was it edited?
Perhaps it is all innocent, but at a time when the internet is awash with wild speculation and crazy conspiracy theories, wouldn’t they want to offer up a photo that answers questions, not one that risks causing a media storm?
If it was innocent, then are we being asked to decide if they are dishonest or incompetent?
Secrecy is in the royal blood, it is their modus operandi and the accusations of cover ups and manipulation of the press is nothing new. In fact, they have been around for years.
Academics, authors and journalists, including the monarchist Andrew Lownie, are increasingly raising concerns about the palace’s resistance to opening up their archives and committing to transparency.
Republic has just recently launched a new Royal Secrets campaign, with the aim of ending royal exemptions from freedom of information laws, moving official documents out of their family archive in Windsor, publishing royal wills and opening up the accounts.
But it’s not just the academics who are concerned. A poll sent out by Savanta the day before showed that a majority thought the royal family were too secretive.
Most people said they didn’t feel they had a good understanding of the royals or how the household works.
A poll out the same week, also from Savanta, showed that support among people under 45 is collapsing.
Kategate will only serve to erode trust in the institution, just at a time when it’s at its weakest in years.
It wasn’t meant to be like this though. Last year was supposed to see the rebirth of the monarchy with a new king and William stepping up as heir.
As Camilla and William turn up to mark Commonwealth Day today, joined by Barbados who recently ditched the Crown and Jamaica who are likely to follow them this year, they might be wondering if there is any way to turn things around.
I suspect the answer is no.
The monarchy was always going to struggle with the loss of the Queen. For many she was the monarchy, the monarchy was her.
But this latest row is likely to have done serious damage to the reputation of an institution incapable of being open, honest and transparent.
It will throw a spotlight on the longstanding accusations of a secretive monarchy.
And with Charles and Kate temporarily out of the picture and William and Camilla seemingly unwilling to step up and take on extra engagements – not that they did many anyway – it will only continue to put more distance between them and younger generations who are already losing interest.
Yet, being seen is all they have, more so now when people will increasingly choose not to believe what they’ve been told, or even the photos that have been shared.
Without trust, it will mean many more people look to a democratic alternative to the monarchy, an elected head of state and a country that embraces accountability, fairness and openness. And if you ask me, it’s about time.
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