Getty Images confirms portrait of the Queen with grandchildren was digitally enhanced

Getty Images has confirmed that a photograph of the late Queen alongside some of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren has been 'digitally enhanced'.

The picture agency confirmed that the photograph had been 'enhanced' at the source, after it was released by Kensington Palace in April 2023 to mark what would have been the Queen's 97th birthday.

Over the last couple of weeks, wild rumours about the royal family - and specifically Kate Middleton's whereabouts - have been swirling online.

It all started when the Princess of Wales stepped back from royal duties following planned abdominal surgery earlier this year.

After several weeks, many started wondering about Kate's whereabouts, and a slew of conspiracy theories were started online.

Adding fuel to the fire, when a photograph of Kate and her three children was posted on the Prince and Princess of Wales' X account for Mother's Day, controversy grew over the photo's editing.

People analysed the photo in great depth, spotting every odd or weird detail and highlighting it on social media for others to see.

Some even questioned whether Kate's face was copied from a separate photograph.

Kensington Palace

This led to people taking a closer look at other images posted by the royals, including the photograph of the Queen.

The palace shared the picture on 21 April 2023 and claimed it was taken by the Princess of Wales at Balmoral in the summer of 2022.

However, many spotted a number of inconsistencies in the photograph.

For example, the pattern on the Queen’s skirt doesn't seem to align, meanwhile some claimed that Prince Louis had been 'copied from another photo'.

Following the hype around the image, photo agency Getty Images has placed an editor's note on the photograph, stating that it has been enhanced.

In a statement, Getty said: "Getty Images can confirm that in accordance with its editorial policy it has placed an editor's note on a handout image stating the image has been digitally enhanced at source."

X/@kensingtonroyal

In what many think will finally put an end to the conspiracies, both Kate and Prince William were spotted out and about at a farm shop in Windsor this weekend.

Kate could be seen carrying a bag of shopping as she walked through the car park of the food shop, laughing and joking with William.

An onlooker captured footage of the pair which was then shared online.

LADbible has contacted Kensington Palace for comment.