Several international news agencies have ordered their clients to remove the image released on Mother’s Day of the Princess of Wales sitting alongside her three children.

The major news agencies, Associated Press, AFP, Reuters and Getty, allege that the photo has been manipulated.

Kensington Palace has so far declined to comment on the allegations.

It is understood that the news agencies removed the image due to them being ‘overly edited’ against their distribution policies.

However, there has been no suggestion that either the Princess of Wales, or her three children, have been in any way misrepresented in the picture.

Similarly, it is stressed that the image has not been removed because the Princess is not in as good health as the picture suggests.

In an alert to their client base, Associated Press said: “At closer inspection it appears that the source has manipulated the image.”

They order news websites to “please remove it from all platforms, including social, where it may still be visible.”

The photo in question shows the Princess of Wales alongside Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

It was taken earlier in the week by Prince William.

Catherine underwent major abdominal surgery in January and, after a two week hospital stay, returned home. Kensington Palace announced at the time that Her Royal Highness would need at least two months of recuperation at home before returning to public duties.