Kate Middleton and Prince William 'quietly' change key policy after 'photo' controversy

The Prince and Princess of Wales have made a significant shift in response to substantial criticism, it has been disclosed. Previously, the couple would provide new photographs to the press ahead of public release. This included distributing images to commemorate their children's birthdays the night before the special day.

However, following the backlash they received over the Mother's Day picture in March, Kate and William now discreetly publish the pictures on their social media platforms . In line with Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis's birthdays earlier this year, Kate and William posted a fresh picture of Prince George to celebrate his 11th birthday last week.

The photo was - like those for Charlotte and Louis - unveiled on the morning of July 22 on Kate and William's X and Instagram accounts , reports the Express . Speaking on the latest Palace Confidential, the Daily Mail's Richard Eden stated: "Previously the Palace would give photographs, to mark a big occasion such as a birthday, to media organizations and newspapers the night before with embargo.

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"They'd have the photographs and the details and then they would release it at a certain time, usually sort of 11pm the night before [the event]." He continued: "But since that row over the photograph Catherine took and had been digitally altered [the Mother's Day photo].

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"The Palace has just put the photograph on social media the next day and it's very significant, because previously agencies who had a policy of not distributing photographs that had been digitally altered, they would have to then raise concerns. But now if it's on social media, it's up to media companies if they publish those photographs or not."

Additionally, it was emphasized that this isn't a fresh policy from the Palace. "It seems to be that way," Mr Eden interjected. Voicing his opinion about the change, Eden concluded: "You could argue [that] it makes sense."

Host Jo Elvin chimed in, saying that "it stops a lot of fuss".

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