The photographer who took a picture of the Princess of Wales leaving Windsor Castle on Monday has hit back at claims the snap was edited.
Princess Kate was spotted riding alongside Prince William in a black car as the Prince of Wales was driven to the Commonwealth service in London.
The future Queen was pictured sitting in the back seat of the car and looking out of the window, whereas William was looking ahead.
It is not known exactly where Kate was heading but it is believed she was attending a “private appointment” which followed a similar route into central London, according to reports.
Now Jim Bennett, the photographer who took the princess’s latest snap has blasted any manipulation claims and said: “We don’t change our photos in Photoshop other than adjusting the light levels if necessary.”
He told the New York Post: “The cars left Windsor Castle and I photographed them a short distance away on Datchet High Street — outside No. 39, to be precise!
“Car shots are unpredictable at the best of times and with some reflection on the glass, it can be difficult.”
Mr Bennett claimed he and another photographer were hired by a news outlet to get a shot of the Prince of Wales on his way to London.
He explained: “As it happened, it wasn’t until I checked on the back of the camera to make sure I had a frame of Prince William that I realized there was someone sitting next to him. It turned out to be Catherine!”
His account comes after allegations that Kate was edited into the photo and subsequently released to the media by the royal family.
Online sleuths alleged that the profile of Kate in the latest snap could have been edited in with another picture of her from a 2016 ceremony, while others raised questions over brick inconsistencies seen above the car and through its windows.
“However the Datchet High Street address provided by Bennett also seems to debunk suspicions of forgery”, wrote the New York Post.
The latest claims follow the Royal Family’s latest drama over the editing of a photo released on Mother’s Day by Kensington Palace featuring Princess Kate and her children.
The image sparked backlash after it appeared to feature editing errors and raised concerns over its authenticity the the royal’s health.
The Princess of Wales publicly took the blame for the mishap however Kensington Palace said it will not be reissuing the original photo.
