Kate Middleton faces another royal photo controversy involving her children but it’s not due to photoshop

LONDON, UK: Kate Miidleton has found herself at the center of a viral controversy once again, thanks to an innocuous photo she took of her children, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

The image, shared on the Prince and Princess of Wales' social media accounts, shows the young royals watching England play in the Euro football final — but it wasn’t the adorable siblings or their personalized England shirts that grabbed attention, as reported by The Daily Mail.

Kate Middleton's photography causes scandal again

The focal point of the controversy? The size of the television they were watching. Sharp-eyed viewers were quick to point out the modest dimensions of the royals' screen.

Comments flooded social media, with one user exclaiming, "Surely, Kate can afford a bigger screen than that!" Another noted, "That can barely be 40 inches," expressing disbelief that the future king and queen's children had to sit so close to the screen.

The other user wrote, "It's also really nice to see a normal sized tv!"

In the United States, where supersized home entertainment systems are the norm, the notion of the royal family using a relatively small TV was met with astonishment. The preference for larger-than-life screens to enjoy shows like 'Yellowstone' and 'The View' is widespread, making the modest royal setup seem almost archaic by comparison.

However, the criticism also highlights a significant cultural divide.

In Britain, especially among the upper echelons of society, bigger is not necessarily better. The British royals, who can certainly afford the most lavish of luxuries, often opt for a more understated approach in their private lives. This is a reflection of the broader class-based nuances in British culture, where ostentation in personal items like televisions is often seen as gauche.

In contrast to the "new money" penchant for oversized home technology, "old money" English households typically favor smaller, more functional televisions.

These homes, which might boast expansive libraries and original artwork, are less likely to have large screens dominating their living spaces. The television, if present, is usually tucked away in a corner, far from dining and sleeping areas, emphasizing conversation and other activities over screen time.

This incident has ignited a debate about the influence of American consumer culture on British tastes. 

Kate Middleton's Mother's Day scandal

This is not the first time when Kate Middleton's viral photography has sparked a scandal.

On Sunday, March 10, the palace released a Mother's Day photo featuring the 42-year-old Princess of Wales smiling with her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, around her.

Prince William, 41, took the photo earlier in the week at their Windsor home, according to People. However, after the photo was shared on social media, fans expressed concerns that the image might have been photoshopped or AI-generated.

News agencies worldwide, including the Associated Press, Getty Images, Reuters, and AFP, removed the photos from their press libraries due to concerns about manipulation. AP issued a “kill notification” for the photo, informing journalists that after “closer inspection, it appears that the source has manipulated the image.” They added, “No replacement photo will be sent.”

Kate apologized for the edited photograph, writing on X, “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.”

Kate Middleton's viral photography ignites Internet discussion

A seemingly simple photograph of the Prince and Princess of Wales' children, Charlotte and Louis, has sparked a lively debate online. The image, showing the young royals watching England play in the Euro football final on a modestly sized television, has led to a flurry of comments and opinions about the size of their screen and what it represents.

One user commented, "Americans should be told, 'Big' doesn't always mean 'better,'" while another wrote, "Huge TVs are so tacky and blingy. They suggest the inhabitants haven't got a life of their own." 

Interestingly, not all Americans disagreed with the royals' choice. A user noted, "It's actually the same in the U.S. I also notice that many young people have no interest in TV in the US."

One person argued, "Surely the size of your TV is a matter of personal choice and the size and type of room you have it in. It isn't an indicator of wealth, taste, or sophistication."

Another user pointed out the perpetual scrutiny faced by the royals, saying, "And if the Royals had a bigger screen, they'd be accused of wasting the public's money on frivolous items. Sadly, they can't win."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.