FINALLY, the truth

THAT photo was supposed to reassure everyone on the Princess of Wales' health. Instead, it compounded the conspiracy theories. As we look forward to her return to the public stage, Emily Andrews unravels fact from fiction

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Poor Kate! What a torrid time she's had of it recently. She was admitted to hospital in January for planned 'abdominal surgery' and she should have been allowed to rest and recuperate at home before her eventual return to public duties.

Instead, sinister and defamatory conspiracy theories multiplied online from divorce to affairs - and, with an absence of official news from Kensington Palace, reached fever pitch, leaving both William and Kate deeply and understandably upset.

William pulling out of his godfather's memorial service and a fuzzy paparazzi picture of Kate and her mother Carole returning home after the school run only heightened concern.

The hashtag #whereiskate was trending on social media, Kensington Palace appealed for calm and seemingly everyone was talking about the Princess of Wales.

It was into this maelstrom that the picture of Kate and her three children was released onto their official social media channels in an attempt to quell the tide of speculation.

It had completely the opposite effect.

Despite it being a charming image, taken by Prince William and ostensibly to celebrate Mother's Day, it was quickly picked apart for its sloppy photo editing and within hours six of the world's biggest picture agencies (supplying pictures to global media organisations) had withdrawn it due to the shot having been 'manipulated'. In effect, they were saying this was not a genuine picture.

Nothing to hide

Kate then issued an extraordinary apology, admitting she had 'edited' the picture as she just wanted it to be a 'nice picture of her kids'.

It was a personal and PR disaster.

So what is the truth?