Putting the rumors to rest, once and for all. Meghan Markle is not getting roped in with the edited photo drama. Several publications accused the Duke and Duchess of Sussex of photoshopping their pregnancy photos in 2021 after Kate Middleton recently apologized for photoshopping her family photo.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle took the pictures in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic while she was pregnany with her daughter Lilibet. Publications like Daily Mail UK and The Telegraph accused the Suits actress of editing the photo backgrounds and changing the trees. However, the photographer of the pregnancy photos came forward with the original photos to prove that they were not edited.
“The original Jpeg without the black and White grade, I expect a full apology and retraction from @dailymail @telegraph” Misan Harriman posted on Instagram along with the original settings for the photo on the iPad it was taken on. “No trees or meadows were moved or swapped, this is the image straight out of camera. Also that is a Jacaranda Tree, not a willow tree.”
Before posting the picture, Harriman came forward with his side of the story in a video. “Unfortunately, there’s been an article on the Daily Mail saying that I have admitted to doctoring the pregnancy announcement portrait I took of Harry and Meghan,” he said. “Apparently I was switching out trees and meadows and I admitted to this in an episode of a podcast called ‘Private Passions.’”
He called the accusations “crazy,” noting that the interviewer, Michael Berkeley, had asked him a very “leading question.”
“I get that a lot in regards to Harry and Meghan and I tend to swerve, ignore, try and get back on track, and say what I’m there to say rather than any sort of intrigue and gossip and that’s exactly what happened,” Harriman said in regard to how he handles “leading” questions from interviewers.
Harriman showed a clip of Michael Berkeley asking the question. “They weren’t actually under a willow tree. They were lying outside in a meadow, weren’t they, Harry and Meghan, when you took a photograph of them?” the interviewer said.
Harriman answered with a straightforward “no.” “They were lost in their love at home in their garden, comfortable, celebrating new joy, new life, the fortitude of hoping for life in life after such loss that they went through with the miscarriage,” he said. So it really was a particularly joyous image to celebrate life itself.” Harriman directed the couple to pose for the photos as he handled the photoshoot remotely.
“So, that exchange could amount to me admitting to doctoring an image is insidious and really dangerous journalism,” Harriman said. “Any mention of meadows and willow trees came out of the person doing the interview. Not my mouth.”
“So to see an article, saying, as fact, that I did what I did not do, is extraordinary to me. And then to try to merge it with this current news cycle, what’s happening, it’s just tragic to see,” he said referring to the Kate Middleton photo editing story that has been making the rounds.
The Princess of Wales posted a photo for Mother’s Day where it features her in the middle while hugging and embracing her three kids, Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte. “Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months,” Kate Middleton wrote in the caption. “Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day. C”
However, many eagle-eyed fans saw the edits on the photo such as Prince Louis’ fingers and around Princess Charlotte’s dress. Kate Middleton issued an apology on social media for the mistakes. “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,” she wrote on X.
Newspapers like The Associated Press had recalled the picture due to the inconsistencies. AP said that “the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet AP’s photo standards. For instance, it contained an inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte’s left hand with the sleeve of her sweater.”
A source close to the Royal family assures that it was all a mistake and that the family had a great Mother’s Day together. The source told People that Kate wanted “minor adjustments” to the “amateur, family photograph taken by the Prince of Wales.”
