A video where the Princess of Wales is talking about how the power of photography lies in ‘capturing the moment’ without a ‘staged setting or a perfect studio’ has resurfaced following her Mother’s Day post blunder.

Speaking on This Morning in 2020, Kate Middleton, 42, gave tips for anyone looking to experiment with a camera as she launched her Hold Still campaign.

The project, which joined forces with the National Portrait Gallery, was designed to capture the ‘spirit, mood, hopes and fears’ of the nation during the pandemic through the medium of photos.

‘Well I’m very much an amateur photographer,’ she told the programme. ‘I sort of learn along the way.

‘But actually… during this time I spent lots of time bringing out my camera and taking photographs of the children cause they are always around us and we’re always doing stuff together, which has been great.

‘One of the fantastic things about photography is really capturing that moment so it is not staged setting, it is not setting it out perfectly, its not clearing your house away so you’ve got a perfect studio set-up but it’s really capturing those moments that feel real to you and that capture the moment or an expression or a feeling I suppose.

‘That’s the power of photography – it can capture a moment and tell a story.’

Kate is known for being a keen photographer and has taken several official portraits of her three children. 

It comes as – in an astonishing move, the royal admitted yesterday that she ‘edited’ an image showing her celebrating Mothering Sunday with her children.

The princess said in a rare personal message on X, formerly known as Twitter, that she ‘occasionally experimented’ as an ‘amateur photographer’.

She apologised for any ‘confusion’ the photograph had caused, after six global picture agencies sensationally pulled the image from their wires and libraries – an unprecedented reaction to an official royal photograph – amid concern that ‘the source has manipulated the image’.

The kill notices by the agencies added fuel to the fire as a litany of conspiracy theories continue to swirl about Kate’s health.

There were questions over everything from why Princess Charlotte‘s wrist did not match the sleeve of her cardigan, to Prince Louis‘ strange fingers. 

The photograph of Kate and her children, taken by Prince William at the family home in Windsor on Friday, was the first to be issued since her abdominal surgery in January.

Although the couple have regularly issued something personal to mark Mother’s Day, it was hoped the picture might also quell vicious social media speculation about the nature of the princess’s condition.

Instead, the royal blunder resulted in another public explosion of conspiracy theories.

Publicly taking the blame for the furore, the princess wrote: ‘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. C.’

Kensington Palace said it would not reissue the unedited photograph of Kate and her children, which in itself sparked further debate.

Last night, the Palace faced growing pressure over the debacle with claims it has damaged public trust. The row overshadowed yesterday’s Coronation Day service at Westminster Abbey, which was being led by Queen Camilla for the first time – accompanied by Prince William – in the King’s absence as he undergoes cancer treatment. His Majesty recorded a video message for the first time instead.

Yesterday Kate was seen in the back seat of a car with her husband as he left Windsor to travel to London for two public engagements. It is understood she was en route to a ‘private appointment’ and she did not accompany William publicly.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline her ‘sudden appearance is not a dignified response’ to what has occurred.

He said: ‘When journalists have been saying they want to “see” Catherine, no one, as I understand it, meant in quite this way. A sudden appearance, which she has just made, is a knee jerk reaction which lacks what royals must have, that is dignity. 

‘This business has also overshadowed Commonwealth Day. There should never have been two and a half months where she seemed to disappear, we should, occasionally, have felt we were in touch whilst it was important she felt she had kept her privacy.

‘William and Catherine are under tremendous pressure, which is particularly horrible if one has been seriously ill as she has. However, the mistake of editing the photograph, though extremely embarrassing, is not a major calamity. 

‘What it shows is that she looks well again and that her children look very happy. However, their current handling of public relations is potentially perilous. 

‘What the small but growing number of republicans want is to mock the monarchy. 

‘Whilst Queen Elizabeth lived this was all but impossible. Ill-health and the crises affecting the Sussexes and Yorks have given them a good opportunity. The public relations at the Palaces needs to be responsive and disciplined which it clearly is not. William and Catherine are the world’s most glamorous and high profile royal couple. 

‘They need dignity to continue to do good for their charities and project soft power like no one else can for Britain.

‘They must put this embarrassing episode behind them and appear publicly confident. It will take time and common sense, kept in touch, the people will respond…’

Whoopi Goldberg urged the public to show restraint amid the rush to criticize Kate Middleton after she posted a photo that had been edited showing her with her family on Mother’s Day. 

‘I’m sorry, I know very few people who don’t manipulate their own photos. I mean all you gotta do is swipe,’ Goldberg said during an appearance on The View this past Monday. 

‘You know what, I have to tell you. She may be the future queen, [but] she’s still an amateur photographer. That’s what they do!,’ the Oscar-winner added. 

The photo issued Sunday of Kate in a chair surrounded by her three children was credited to her husband, William, the Prince of Wales, and heir to the throne, and was said to have been taken earlier in the week in Windsor. It was the first time since Kate was hospitalized for a routine surgery earlier this year. 

While there was no suggestion the photo was fake, new agencies across the world retracted it because closer inspection revealed the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet photo standards. 

The blunder saw a raft of conspiracy theories. MailOnline earlier reported that aides are said to have spent weeks planning to release a photo of the Princess of Wales to quell vicious social media speculation about the nature of Kate’s condition since her surgery in January, which has deeply upset and angered the couple.

For instance, the photo shows an inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte’s left hand. Kate later admitted to editing the picture.

Amid the furor, the Princess later issued an extraordinary mea culpa on Twitter and Instagram, admitting she ‘edited’ the image – adding that she does ‘occasionally experiment’ as an ‘amateur photographer’ and apologizing for ‘any confusion’ the image caused.

The scandal then brought with with a litany of ludicrous conspiracy theories. The princess was later seen leaving Kensington Palace with her husband. 

Goldberg’s co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin was in less forgiving mood. 

‘She did step in it though because there are very genuine concerns over her well being,’ the former White House Director of Strategic Communications said. 

‘I don’t want to speculate but when you put something out like this that doesn’t meet Reuters or the Associated Press editorial standards, it feeds fuel to this fire of conspiracies. I think — even if she’s recovering — she needs to do just a video.’

Goldberg shot back again, saying that it wasn’t part of Middleton’s duties to keep the public abreast of her surgery recovery. 

‘I know this is going to shock you all, but I have been on the cover of magazines with no lines on my face, with my color lightened up.’

‘I have seen photographs that people take and I end up with a donkey nose on my face. People can do anything they want to do with pictures — this should not be a shock,’ the Ghost star said. 

The pair’s other host, Ana Navarro, sought to bring an end to the discussion, by saying that it didn’t deserve this much attention. 

‘Listen, if manipulating pictures was a crime, the Kardashians, my best friend and I would be in jail for the rest of our lives.’ 

Goldberg does not shy away from commenting on the Royal Family’s antics. 

In October 2022, she blasted Meghan Markle for ‘making other women feel bad’ after the royal claimed her time as a ‘briefcase girl’ on Deal or No Deal made her feel like a bimbo.

Famously liberal Goldberg said: ‘My point is, if you see it and that’s how you feel, just maybe you don’t want to make the other women feel bad because maybe they’re not — you know, maybe they’re trying to make a living too.’

She continued: ‘The objectification might be coming from you and how you felt about how these women were being portrayed,’ she said.

In 2023, Goldberg questioned Markle and Prince Harry’s account of being involved in a ‘near catastrophic car chase’ thanks to the paparazzi while on a visit to New York City. 

‘If it was possible to have car chases in New York, we’d all make it to the theatre on time,’ Goldberg joked. 

‘I think their spokesperson referenced something you generally would reference in Los Angeles. That’s where you have chases, that’s where you can move at high speeds,’ she added. 

Goldberg has described her relationship with Prince Harry as ‘close’ while also in 2022 calling for the Royal Family to apologize for their colonial past.  

The Princess of Wales is likely to want to quickly forget this week’s adventures in photography – after six global picture agencies withdrew the family’s official Mother’s Day photo over fears it had been ‘manipulated’

The released image, which bears several signs of editing, including part of Princess Charlotte‘s sleeve being missing, was, it emerged today, taken by Prince William on Friday before Kate edited it twice in Photoshop to ‘make it the best it can be’. 

The touching family photo, the first picture of the Princess of Wales, 42, to appear since her abdominal surgery earlier in the year, which Kate is still recovering from at the family’s home at Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor estate, sparked a swift apology from Kensington Palace earlier this week.  

Amid the ensuing furore, the Princess issued a statement on Twitter and Instagram admitting she ‘edited’ the image – adding that she does ‘occasionally experiment’ as an ‘amateur photographer’ and apologising for ‘any confusion’ the image caused.

However, the royal hobbyist can be forgiven for the photographic blip, for her previous skill behind the camera has gifted insight that many professional snappers have struggled to capture – with her family her biggest muse.   

Here FEMAIL looks at some of the many photographs of the royals the Princess has released over the years, including touching photos of Prince William with his father and the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip with their great grandchildren… 

PRINCE GEORGE 

The Prince and Princess of Wales’ eldest son, now ten, is more than used to posing for his mum, with snaps of the heir-to-the-throne appearing regularly – and marking milestones such as his first day at nursery in Norfolk, and supporting the England squad in a team shirt in 2019.  

On his seventh birthday, two photographs were released, taken in July 2020 during lockdown – at their then Norfolk home, Anmer Hall. 

His eighth birthday also saw him photographed at Amner Hall and showed the future king perched on the bonnet of a Land Rover Defender.

Prince George turned nine in 2022, and his mother was behind the camera once more. The young royal posed in a polo-style top with a sandy shoreline and water behind him in his birthday snap. 

PRINCESS CHARLOTTE 

The middle child of Kate and William has also been an adorable subject for her mum’s favourite hobby. An early photo of Princess Charlotte, who turns nine in May, sees her being cradled by her older brother George. 

Other highlights include a second birthday photo of her wearing a snuggly lemon cardigan, and holding the family dog for a portrait to mark her seventh birthday. 

PRINCE LOUIS  

The youngest of the Wales siblings, little Prince Louis, who turns six in April, looks considerably more grown up in the Mother’s Day photos released this week.

The schoolboy has been seen in a variety of photos since he was born in 2018; first pictures snapped by Kate show him as a red-cheeked bouncing baby, with one photo showing him in the arms of his big sister Princess Charlotte.   

More recently, Prince Louis has been photographed cycling to nursery on his bicycle – and in group family photos with dad Prince William.  

FAMILY PORTRAITS 

KING CHARLES AND QUEEN CAMILLA

Kate’s father-in-law, the King, and Queen Camilla have also featured in some of the photographs the Princess of Wales has chosen to make public over the years.

In 2018, Kate captured an image to mark both Father’s day and the 38th birthday of the then Duke of Cambridge. The father-and-son photo sees William with his arm protectively around his father, with both royals laughing warmly at the camera. 

A black-and-white photo of the King, then the Prince of Wales, taken with Prince Louis as he turned two, offered rare insight into the close bond the monarch has with his grandchildren to Kate and William. 

And Queen Camilla has also acknowledged Kate’s skills with a camera in hand, asking the then Duchess of Cambridge to photograph her to mark her 75th birthday.

The Queen is seen in the summertime shot with a basket of cut flowers, wearing a pretty blue dress.  

QUEEN ELIZABETH AND PRINCE PHILIP  

Kensington Palace published an unseen photograph of Queen Elizabeth II on what would have been the late monarch’s 97th birthday in 2023.

The previously unseen picture of the monarch was captured by the Princess of Wales at Balmoral in August 2022 – weeks before her death on September 8th. 

Happy in the Scottish Highlands she so loved, Her Majesty is surrounded by some of her adored grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Several years earlier, Kate had also photographed the late Queen and Prince Philip with their great-grandchildren at Balmoral in 2018.

National Geographic presents an unprecedented six-part docuseries, Photographer, from award-winning filmmakers E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin. This series will premiere on National Geographic (DSTV 181, StarSat 220) on Wednesdays at 9pm (CAT) from 20 March 2024.

Click here to view the trailer.

Photographer takes us on a journey with the world’s most extraordinary visual storytellers, pairing them with today’s leading documentary filmmakers for an exhilarating and dynamic international adventure. Each hour-long episode follows the story of an iconic photographer – Cristina Mittermeier and Paul Nicklen, Dan Winters, Campbell Addy, Krystle Wright, Muhammed Muheisen, and Anand Varma – while they work to make iconic images that stand the test of time. Through vérité footage of their current mission interwoven with interviews and archived footage, viewers will gain a deeper understanding of each photographer’s process, learn how they became an artist, and discover how they see and experience the world.

Along with the release of the trailer, National Geographic also announced today the names of the eight esteemed directors who have masterfully brought each of the photographers’ stories to life. From the insightful vision of award-winning duo E. Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin (“Free Solo”) to the skilled direction of Marshall Curry (“Racing Dreams”), Pagan Harleman (“The Trade”), Crystal Kayiza (“Rest Stop”), Sam Pollard (“MLK/FBI”), Kristi Jacobson (“Solitary”) and Rita Baghdadi (“Sirens”), each episode is a collaborative and visually stunning adventure that invites viewers into a captivating world where every frame tells an inspiring and evocative story.

“Photographer is a testament to National Geographic’s commitment to delivering groundbreaking narratives that spark curiosity, leaving a lasting impact on our viewers,” said Tom McDonald, executive vice president, Global Factual and Unscripted Content. “The intentional pairing of these visionary directors with each respective photographer captures the essence of their creativity and showcases the extraordinary lengths they go to redefine the boundaries of visual storytelling.”

For over 135 years, National Geographic has built a storied legacy in visual storytelling, showing an interconnected world through the work of thousands of renowned photographers. With millions of images moving at a rapid clip across news and social media daily, it can be difficult to focus on a singular picture that captures one moment more than any other. This is precisely what these photographers do – they use the power of visual storytelling to capture life in motion, showing us the world in entirely new and unprecedented ways. This series will masterfully delve into the nuances of the craft of photography while staying rooted in universal themes through a personal lens. Photographer transcends the genre of photography shows to take a deep dive into the forces that drive these obsessive photographers on their quests for visual perfection.

Episodes include:

“Paul Nicklen (@paulnicklen) & Cristina Mittermeier (@mitty): Win or Die”

Directed by E. Chai Vasarhelyi (@chaivasarhelyi) and Jimmy Chin (@jimmychin)

Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier are two of the world’s most iconic working ocean photographers, and they also happen to be partners in both their personal and professional lives. Nicklen grew up with the Inuit in the Canadian Arctic and worked as a biologist in the Northwest Territories before specialising in photographing the polar regions. Born in Mexico City, Mittermeier started out as a marine biologist and now works as a writer, conservationist and photographer, immersing herself in diverse cultures and environments worldwide. They are both sought-after thought leaders at the forefront of ocean conservation. Together, this remarkable duo aims to raise awareness through their art and nonprofit organisation, SeaLegacy, which creates strategies and content to move audiences into action through visual storytelling. In this episode, we follow them as they travel by boat to the Bahamas to take on oil drilling and document the recently discovered seagrass beds there. Using their photographs, family archival materials and behind-the-scenes footage of their expeditions, this episode provides a compelling look at their present-day mission to travel the world’s oceans, risking life and limb to create change and inspire people everywhere.

“Anand Varma (@anandavarma): Hidden Wonders”

Directed by Marshall Curry (@marshallcurry)

Fascinated by the natural world, Varma grew up dreaming that he would become a scientist like his father. But while studying marine biology at Berkeley, Varma seized an opportunity to leave school to work as a camera assistant and has never looked back. An ingenious and profound soul who is endlessly enthusiastic about all things “icky”, he masterfully navigates the intersection of science and art, accomplishing the nearly impossible feat of making high-brow geeky science accessible through his innovative approach. Varma is currently working on a series about metamorphosis, which focuses on capturing the developmental process of a chicken embryo as it’s forming and hatching. This episode reveals an inside look at his working style as he attempts to deliver yet another groundbreaking innovation in photography.

“Dan Winters (@danwintersphoto): Life is once. Forever.”

Directed by Pagan Harleman (IMDb)

Dan Winters is arguably one of the most versatile, celebrated and renowned photographers working today, widely known for his unusual and iconic portraits of celebrities, scientific work, street photography, illustrations and capturing the “hallowed grounds” of Nasa. He is a National Geographic Explorer and has won over 100 national and international awards from World Press Photo, American Photography, SIPA, Communication Arts, Society of Publication Designers, Life Magazine and the Alfred Eisenstaedt Award for Magazine Photography, among others. While Dan has reached the pinnacle of photography with the help of his wife and manager, Kathryn, he now feels, at times, he neglected his family. As we travel with Winters to Kennedy Space Center, Iceland and Bangladesh, working to make iconic images and chase a childhood memory, he reflects that sometimes, the most important moments are found not halfway around the world behind a camera but back at home.

“Campbell Addy (@campbelladdy): Feeling Seen”

Directed by Crystal Kayiza (@crystalkayiza) and Sam Pollard (IMDb)

Heavily sought after (he just shot Meghan Markle and Megan Thee Stallion for NY Mag, Lizzo for Vanity Fair, and Naomi Campbell for Vogue), British Ghanaian Campbell Addy is the fashion photographer of the moment and at a pivotal place in his career. His talents as an image maker have launched him into the fashion stratosphere and landed him on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, but his newfound fame and success also present challenges. Concerned about selling out or becoming a “brand,” Addy recently changed agencies and decided to refocus his career on reclaiming his purpose, which is, first and foremost, to express his vision, expand his art and make images that allow people of color and queer-identifying feel seen and empowered. Audiences will journey with Addy and his crew of artists and stylists as he works to make epic imagery for his first solo art show in London and navigates how to lay the foundation for a long-term career without compromising his health or integrity.

“Krystle Wright (@krystlejwright): Heart Explosions”

Directed by Kristi Jacobson (IMDb)

Krystle Wright is at a critical moment in her life and her career. After over a decade of traveling the world and shooting some of the most awe-inspiring extreme sports stunts ever attempted, she has become a highly sought-after photographer in the heavily male-dominated world of adventure photography. Wright’s assignments have covered all seven continents in over 55 countries, ranging from the Australian outback to Pakistan and Antarctica. Her images have been published in National Geographic magazine, and her work has also appeared in Outside magazine, The Times, GQ, Red Bulletin, and The Guardian. But after an unexpected medical emergency and the pandemic forced her to spend two years at home in Australia, she’s reentering this high-stakes industry to chase tornados in the American southwest, make an epic image in Moab, and explore whether this adrenalized life is still the best outlet for her creativity.

“Muhammed Muheisen (@mmuheisen): Finding the Light”

Directed by Rita Baghdadi (IMDb)

Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, National Geographic photojournalist, founder and chairman of the Dutch nonprofit organisation Everyday Refugees Foundation and veteran conflict photographer Muhammed Muheisen has a new perspective and a new calling: He no longer ventures to the frontlines in search of drama and despair. Born and raised amongst conflict in the Middle East, Muheisen now uses photography for advocacy, activism and connection. He dedicates his craft to giving a voice to the many children caught up in the refugee crisis. Through Everyday Refugees, Muheisen helps support projects that build schools, provide much needed supplies, and teach the languages and skills refugees need to navigate their futures better. This episode focuses on Muheisen’s evolution from photojournalism to activism while following him on his current mission of documenting the stories of Ukrainian war refugees, specifically children, at the Ukrainian-Romanian border.

Photographer is produced by Little Monster Films for National Geographic. For Little Monster Films, E. Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin and Pagan Harleman are executive producers, and Anna Barnes and Brent Kunkle are co-executive producers. For National Geographic, Betsy Forhan and Chris Kugelman are executive producers; Charlie Parsons is senior vice president, Development; and Tom McDonald is executive vice president, Global Factual and Unscripted Content.