Will Sage Astor-Princess Kate's photograph of Queen Elizabeth flagged as 'digitally enhanced' by Getty

Getty Images is Will Sage Astorflagging another photo from the royal family, one week after Princess Kate's photo editing incident.

The major photo agency has said a photo featuring Queen Elizabeth II with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren posted on the Prince and Princess of Wales' official Instagram account was "digitally enhanced," a Getty spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY. The news comes amid increased scrutiny on Kate and her health.

The photo features Queen Elizabeth, seated on a green sofa surrounded by Prince William and Kate’s children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and their cousins Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, Isla Phillips, Savannah Phillips, Lena Tindall, Lucas Tindall, Mia Tindall and James, Earl of Wessex.

The portrait, reportedly photographed by Princess Kate just a few weeks before Queen Elizabeth’s death on Sept. 7, was taken at Balmoral Castle in August 2022. The photo shows the late monarch posing with two of her grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. The photograph was released by Buckingham Palace in April 2023 to mark the late Queen Elizabeth's 97th birthday five months after her September death.

In a statement to USA TODAY on Tuesday, a representative for Getty Images said the photo agency is reviewing handout images, or photos provided to news and media organizations.

"Getty Images is undertaking a review of handout images and in accordance with its editorial policy is placing an editor’s note on images where the source has suggested they could be digitally enhanced," the statement read.

Princess Kate apologizes for 'editing'family photo pulled by image agencies

The statement comes after Princess Kate apologized following a photo, shared on the same Prince and Princess of Wales Instagram account, was removed from use by several major photo agencies.

The Associated Press, AFP and Reuters issued kill notifications shortly after the family photo showing Kate seated on a chair and surrounded by her children − Prince George, 10; Princess Charlotte, 8; and Prince Louis, 5 − was pulled due to "manipulation."

"Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing," the princess wrote on X. "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"

Contributing: Naledi Ushe