According to insiders close to Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex never altered photos in the same manner as the Princess of Wales.
Furthermore, they suggested that if the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had presented a fabricated family portrait, the media would have severely criticized them.
A source emphasized Meghan’s meticulous nature, stating that she possesses a sharp eye for detail and would never make such an error.
The Princess publicly apologized for editing a Mother’s Day picture featuring herself and her children.
The Prince of Wales captured the image at the mother’s Windsor residence during a 40-minute session last Friday.
The photograph underwent editing using Adobe Photoshop on an Apple Mac device just before 10 pm that evening and again the following day, as indicated by the metadata. The process involved merging multiple images through a copy and paste technique, noted in the metadata’s electronic footprint.
Several discrepancies were identified, including a missing section of Princess Charlotte’s sleeve, a misaligned zipper on the Princess’s jacket, and blurred areas that did not align with the rest of the image.
Various international media outlets, including AP, Reuters, and Getty, issued a directive to withhold the image due to its manipulation within 12 days of its release.
The Sussexes viewed this incident as a demonstration that different standards applied to each couple.
A source cited by Page Six highlighted that if Harry and Meghan had encountered a similar issue, they would have faced severe backlash.
During a conversation with female tech executives, the Duchess condemned online hate and emphasized the importance of taking action against it.
Meghan expressed bewilderment at the negativity she faced online, particularly during her pregnancy, likening it to being labeled as “cruel” instead of assertive.
She expressed concern over the extent of hate spread online, particularly among women, questioning the motives behind such behavior.
Acknowledging the criticism she received, the Princess, a newcomer to aristocratic circles, pledged to take accountability for her actions.
Despite undergoing abdominal surgery on January 17, rumors surrounding her whereabouts persisted, prompting her to anticipate scrutiny when the edited image was released.
The Duchess of Sussex is currently preparing for the Invictus Games in Whistler, Canada. Credit: Stephen Lock/i-Images Picture Agency
The tensions between the couples are laid bare in Prince Harry’s autobiography, Spare, and various television interviews, underscoring the strained relationship between the Waleses and the Sussexes.
A royal source described Meghan as a “powerful figure” who always seeks the final say, especially evident during her editorial role at Vogue.
While guest-editing the American edition of the magazine in 2019, Meghan’s assertiveness reportedly caused tension within the team. The cover featuring 15 inspirational women drew controversy for omitting mention of Elizabeth II.
Meghan criticized the traditional practice of releasing family photos through news outlets, opting instead to share them on their social media platform, @sussexroyal on Instagram, where they retained copyright control.
Despite this preference, the Sussexes faced scrutiny over their 2019 Christmas card, featuring a black and white image of the couple with their son Archie crawling toward the camera.
Allegations arose regarding potential editing of Meghan’s face in the photo, with claims that elements were manipulated. These criticisms were dismissed by Janina Gavankar, a friend of Meghan’s who took the photograph, as part of a smear campaign.
