Jim Bennett, the photographer responsible for capturing the widely-discussed moment, refuted any suggestions of tampering and clarified, "We don’t alter our photographs using Photoshop, except for adjusting lighting if necessary." Describing the scene, Bennett recounted, "The cars left Windsor Castle and I photographed them a short distance away on Datchet High Street — specifically outside No. 39! Car shots can be tricky, especially with reflections on the glass."
In the now-viral picture, Kate accompanies William in a black car as they head to the Commonwealth service in London, shortly after Kate addressed concerns regarding her official photo with children. Kate is depicted seated beside William in the back seat, gazing out of the window, while William faces forward. Although Kate's exact destination remains undisclosed, reports suggest she was en route to a "private appointment" in central London.
Bennett disclosed that he and another photographer were commissioned by a news outlet to capture Prince William's journey to London. Reflecting on the moment he realized Kate was seated beside William, Bennett shared, "It wasn’t until I checked the back of the camera to ensure I had a shot of Prince William that I noticed someone next to him. It turned out to be Catherine!"
These revelations follow allegations that Kate was digitally inserted into the photo and subsequently distributed to the media by the royal family.
