A year after the incident, a royal expert has revealed the significant toll the speculation took on Kate and her family.

One of the most talked-about Photoshop errors was a Mother’s Day post shared by Kate, featuring her children—Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6.

Critics quickly pointed out multiple flaws in the image, including an odd spot near Charlotte’s sleeve, mismatched window panes, a missing reflection in the glass, and Kate’s jacket zipper stopping halfway.

The controversy escalated when major global news organizations, including AP, AFP, and Reuters, pulled the image, citing concerns about it being ‘manipulated.’ Ultimately, Kate admitted to editing the photo.

“There was a real sense then that they felt hurt by it,” royal author Robert Hardman told PEOPLE this week.

“It was treated as though it were some grand deception.”

Kate came under fire for a Mother’s Day photo last year (X/@KensingtonPalace)

At the time, the Princess admitted her mistake, saying: “Like many budding photographers, I sometimes try my hand at editing.

“I want to apologize for any confusion the family photo we posted yesterday may have caused.

“I truly hope everyone had a wonderful Mother’s Day celebration.”

Ailsa Anderson, former press secretary to the late Queen Elizabeth II, also weighed in on the backlash surrounding the Photoshopping blunder, telling the publication: “It felt like being on a rollercoaster… going through chemotherapy while trying to protect your children.

“It was like being in the eye of a storm, with no sense of when it would settle.”

On March 22, Kate publicly shared her diagnosis in an emotional video, revealing she was in the early stages of treatment.

“These last few months have been incredibly challenging for our family, but I’ve had an amazing medical team that has taken such good care of me, for which I’m deeply thankful,” she said at the time.

Around that same period, her father-in-law, King Charles, was also diagnosed with cancer, and reports indicated that her husband, Prince William, learned of both conditions “within a few weeks.”

Jason Knauf, who worked with the Waleses until 2021, previously discussed the family’s health challenges on 60 Minutes Australia, suggesting that these struggles might have deeply impacted Prince William.

“If you’re Prince William, you learn that both your wife and your father have cancer…” Knauf recalled in the February interview. “I mean, I couldn’t believe it.”

Reflecting on a supposed phone conversation with William after Kate’s diagnosis, the former aide shared, “It was devastating, absolutely devastating. It’s the lowest I’ve ever seen him.”

Several experts recalled the heartbreaking announcement (Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)

In September, Kate revealed that she had completed her chemotherapy treatment and was slowly returning to her royal responsibilities.

Then, in January, during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea, the Princess confirmed that her cancer was in remission.

“I wanted to take this moment to express my gratitude to The Royal Marsden for taking such excellent care of me over the past year,” she said at the time. “I am deeply thankful to everyone who has quietly supported William and me as we’ve navigated everything.”

Kate also added, “We couldn’t have asked for more. The care and guidance we’ve received throughout my time as a patient has been outstanding.”