Following the release of the edited photograph, it was swiftly removed from all major international photography platforms upon the discovery of editing issues. This marks the first instance in which a picture issued by the Royal Family has been recalled in such a manner, adding to the significance of the incident.
Dublin Airport playfully poked fun at Kate's photo by poorly photoshopping an image of Cillian Murphy's head onto a person leaning out of a plane, holding an Irish flag. In a Twitter post, Dublin Airport humorously commented, "Our new social media intern Kate did a great job capturing Cillian Murphy's return to Dublin Airport this morning after his Oscars success." The airport further quipped in the comments, "Took us hours."
Cillian Murphy, who made history as the first Irish-born star to win the esteemed Best Actor award at the Oscars, garnered widespread praise for his acceptance speech. The connection between Murphy's achievement and the airport's lighthearted tweet added an unexpected dimension to the unfolding story, amplifying the online conversation.
Princess Kate promptly responded to the controversy by issuing an apology on X, acknowledging, "Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother's Day."
The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges associated with sharing edited images, even for prominent figures like the Duchess of Cambridge. As the story gained traction, it captivated the public's attention, shedding light on the power and potential ramifications of social media in today's digital landscape.