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Four of the world's biggest news photo agencies have warned media outlets to not use the first official photo of the Princess of Wales, which was released just hours ago, because it "appears that the source has manipulated the image".
The picture of Catherine, 42, with her and Prince William's three children was published on the couple's official Instagram account in time for Mother's Day in the UK.
It was initially picked up by agencies like Associated Press and Getty Images, which provide media outlets like Nine with images to use on websites and newspapers.
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But less than 12 hours later, Associated Press issued an alert explaining that on "closer inspection" of the image they would not be distributing it because of some kind of unspecified manipulation.
Getty Images warned news outlets of a "mandatory photo kill".
The caption on the original Instagram post, which remains live, indicated Prince William took the photo and Kensington Palace said it was taken "this week".
But as the photograph quickly went viral, some Royal watchers suggested the photo appeared doctored with AI or had been photoshopped.
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Various curiosities flagged in the picture are Kate's missing wedding ring, the positioning of Prince Louis' hand and a missing end of his index finger, a section of the floor tiles seeming blurred, and healthy green grass and leafy tree at the end of an English winter.
In the photo, Kate, Princess of Wales and Prince Louis, Prince George and Princess Charlotte are all beaming out big, broad smiles. The Princess of Wales appears to have her arms wrapped around Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte, with her hands nestled tightly into their waists.
Reports in the UK suggest Kensington Palace has declined to comment.
Nine.com.au has contacted Associated Press for comment.
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The January announcement of Kate's planned abdominal surgery, on the same day as news about King Charles' cancer, shocked the UK and royal watchers globally.
The royal family warned the princess would need as much as two weeks in hospital and be off royal duties until after Easter. She was eventually released in late January, 13 days after her surgery.
Little information about Kate's condition has been revealed beyond that it is not cancerous and the surgery was successful.
Despite Kensington Palace's early warning, the long absence and deliberately vague information – an attempt to protect Kate's privacy – sparked a series of conspiracy theories ranging from funny to concerning to explain her long absence.
The speculation prompted the palace to issue a rare follow-up statement earlier this month.
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"Kensington Palace made it clear in January the timelines of the princess' recovery and we'd only be providing significant updates," a representative told multiple media outlets.
"That guidance stands."
While today's portrait was the first official image released by the royal family, a paparazzo snapped a pic of the princess with her mother, Carole Middleton, at Windsor last week.
Last week the British Army was forced to hurriedly backtrack on an announcement on its website that Kate would be attending a Trooping the Colour ceremony in June.
But the Army had not got approval from the palace before publishing the page, which had a picture of Kate and copy stating she would be reviewing troops on 8 June.
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That engagement would have been Kate's first since surgery.
Speculation about Kate's health mounted in February when William at the last minute pulled out from a memorial service for his godfather, the late King Constantine of Greece, because of what officials called a "personal matter."
Palace officials didn't elaborate, but reiterated that Kate continues to do well in her recovery.
