VT professor reacts to Princess Kate’s manipulated photo

BLACKSBURG, Va. (WFXR) — England’s Princess of Wales Kate Middleton is apologizing for altering a family photo that was intended to calm down rumors about her health. Unfortunately, it had the opposite impact.

After learning that the picture was altered, several media outlets took the picture down. This was her first picture since her abdominal surgery two months ago.

The royal family’s silence about her health has fueled speculation about her condition. However, one Virginia Tech Communications expert says Buckingham Palace needs to be more transparent if it wants rumors to stop.

Princess Kate says sorry for manipulated family photo

“If you are looking for content about the Princess and the Royal Family’s health and Buckingham Palace or whoever is not producing that content, the information people want to know, they’re going to turn somewhere else to find it. Often times who they turn to is the internet which is rife with rumor and disinformation,” said Dr. Cayce Myers, the director of graduate studies at Virginia Tech School of Communication.

Dr. Myers went on to say he was surprised that someone with their own media staff was editing her photos.

According to AP, Veteran public relations consultant Mark Borkowski said the photo gaffe exposed a wider PR problem for the monarchy.

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