Fake Kate Middleton pics, fake apology?

Clarence Ford speaks to Barbara Friedman about trending online news which seems to still be #KateMiddleton and her edited Mother's Day picture. 

If you've missed it, Kate Middleton has been trending for a while and it has not stopped.

Friedman says she does not understand why "this saga" continues.

"This saga just continues. Everywhere I go, be it people who hate the royals, love the royals, don't care about the royals are just completely consumed by this story and I don't entirely understand what's behind that." 

Barbara Friedman, Barb's Wire - CapeTalk

If you need a recap, royal fans noticed that Middleton was missing in royal action since late last year which sent the internet spiraling with conspiracy theories.

Internet spirals over 'missing' British royal, Kate Middleton

Buckingham Palace later confirmed that the Princess' silence was due to surgery. 

UK's Princess Kate seen in public for first time since surgery: US media

But, the Princess of Wales kept trending for her latest Mother's Day post.

The photo shows Kate Middleton surrounded by her three children in what is the first official picture of the princess since she underwent abdominal surgery in January.

However, within hours of it being posted on social media, picture agencies began recalling the photo citing fears it had been “manipulated” AKA edited.

Of course, this sent social media into another frenzy after some people realised that the image had several editing failures, including that the sleeve of Princess Charlotte’s cardigan did not line up and that the hands of the middle child around Middleton were different sizes. 

Middleton came out and apologised for editing the image online and for causing "confusion."

Princess of Wales apologises over edited photo

The apology was dubbed "so fake" by several X users who saw the Princess of Wales' post. 

Friedman says, this is "an absolute PR disaster for the palace" in a time "where if you want to be popular on social media, you have to be honest and tell the truth."

"It's an absolute PR disaster for the palace and royal family which appears to be completely out of it's depth in a day and age where social media will tear apart whatever you are publishing... you have to keep up with the times."

Barbara Friedman, Barb's Wire - CapeTalk

Friedman notes that the Princess had left Windsor with the Prince of Wales who is due to attend the Commonwealth Day service in London on Tuesday and another blurry image of the two were posted -sending the internet into more conspiracy theories - and so the saga continues.