WALES

Princess of Wales photo controversy shows we’ve been thinking about edited images the wrong way

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Experts have warned of a coming “infocalypse”, and of the consequences for this year’s bumper crop of elections.

Key Points: 
  • Experts have warned of a coming “infocalypse”, and of the consequences for this year’s bumper crop of elections.
  • Yet the biggest story about photographic manipulation so far in 2024 is that the Princess of Wales manually edited a family portrait.
  • The response to this controversy can help us think about the wider challenge of manipulated images and video.

A royal history of faked photographs

  • Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were early enthusiasts, first sitting for photographs in the 1840s.
  • During this time, composite images – which combine multiple exposures into one image – were widespread, owing to the limitations of photographic technology.
  • Some of these composite photographs, such as Henry Peach Robinson’s image Fading Away, were controversial, because of both their subject matter and technique.
  • Before it became possible to directly print photographs in newspapers in 1880, there was a widespread practice of copying photographs into drawings, embellishing them by adding colour and improving the composition.
  • When half-tone printing was introduced, journalists continued to tweak their photographs, with one editor of a photography magazine in 1898 boldly stating that “everybody fakes”.

Solving a social problem

  • Outside of journalistic contexts, we don’t have strong social norms against adding colour to photographs.
  • The problem here isn’t that photo editing software fundamentally undermines our trust in photographs.
  • But the fact that we have those standards, and press organisations were able to respond accordingly, shows we have the tools to manage this problem.
  • But this is a social, not just a technological, problem.


Joshua Habgood-Coote has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement no. 818633).

Where’s Kate? Speculation about the ‘missing’ princess is proof the Palace’s media playbook needs a re-write

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Social media have been awash with speculation about Catherine’s health and whereabouts.

Key Points: 
  • Social media have been awash with speculation about Catherine’s health and whereabouts.
  • As scrutiny reaches a fever pitch, we ask: why is the Palace’s typical media playbook no longer working?

Not so ‘unprecedented’

  • Anne Boleyn (circa 1501-1536), the second of six wives of Henry VIII, was executed after being found guilty of adultery, incest and treason.
  • The long-reigning Queen Victoria (1819-1901) was widely regarded as as a loyal wife and mother.
  • Yet she too became the target of gossip regarding her close friendship with Scottish servant John Brown after her husband, Prince Albert, died in 1861.

The Palace’s strategic communications

  • The royal family has gradually adjusted to new media and technologies, though not as quickly as the public might like.
  • On one hand, the Palace continues its age-old tradition of announcing major news on a noticeboard at the gates of Buckingham Palace.

Internet sleuthing and a manipulated image

  • There were also more serious claims that she was in a coma, or dead, or getting a divorce.
  • In the midst of this speculation, TMZ published a grainy photo of Catherine in the passenger seat of a car near Windsor Castle.
  • The public quickly realised the image was at best poorly photoshopped or at worst AI-generated.
  • The Associated Press, Getty Images, AFP and Reuters subsequently issued “kill notices” on the image, stating concerns it had been digitally manipulated.

Old media PR won’t work in a new media world

  • The situation with Catherine’s absence from public life exposes the limits of old media strategies in a “new media” world.
  • The Palace is used to being able to control media coverage through the royal rota, a select group of press outlets in the UK given access to royal events.
  • Yet the interest in Catherine’s health has prompted a number of statements to the press.
  • These old media strategies don’t seem to be working, with news outlets that are part of the royal rota reporting critically on the manipulated image.


The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

A&O Shearman Announces First Senior Leadership Roles

Retrieved on: 
Friday, March 1, 2024

London and New York, March 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allen & Overy (A&O) and Shearman & Sterling (Shearman) today announced the first of several senior leadership roles for the combined firm A&O Shearman, taking effect on May 1, 2024.

Key Points: 
  • London and New York, March 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allen & Overy (A&O) and Shearman & Sterling (Shearman) today announced the first of several senior leadership roles for the combined firm A&O Shearman, taking effect on May 1, 2024.
  • Khalid Garousha has been elected as senior partner and Hervé Ekué has been elected as managing partner of A&O Shearman.
  • Adam Hakki, current senior partner at Shearman, has been appointed co-chair of the global A&O Shearman board and executive committee, and will also lead the firm’s U.S. business as its chair.
  • Khalid Garousha, senior partner, said: “I am honored that the partnership has put its trust in me to lead A&O Shearman as its first senior partner.

Gracell Biotechnologies Acquisition Completed

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 22, 2024

The acquisition was structured as a merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company with the Company surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the “Merger”).

Key Points: 
  • The acquisition was structured as a merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company with the Company surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the “Merger”).
  • As a result of the Merger, the Company ceased to be a publicly traded company and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.
  • Such letters of transmittal must be completed before such holders can receive the applicable merger consideration.
  • Certificated ADS holders should wait to receive the letters of transmittal before surrendering their ADSs.

Spectral Receives UKCA Authorization for Burn Indication Expected Commercialization 2nd Half 2024

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 22, 2024

"I am delighted to announce this achievement in our Company’s evolution.

Key Points: 
  • "I am delighted to announce this achievement in our Company’s evolution.
  • “In addition, this regulatory authorization opens up the ability to expand partnerships with regions such as the Middle East that recognize the UKCA authorization.”   Revenue from commercialization in the UK in 2024 represents an addition to the $28 million revenue guidance previously communicated by the Company.
  • “This protracted decision process burdens the patient as well as the healthcare system with unnecessary hospitalization time.
  • The Company aims to extend its technology to benefit pediatric populations and is continuing to initiate case studies and case series with surgeons at leading burn centers.

Gracell Biotechnologies Announces Shareholders’ Approval of Merger Agreement

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company at the effective time of the Merger, with the Company continuing as the surviving company and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of the Parent (the “Merger”).

Key Points: 
  • Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Companies Act (As Revised) of the Cayman Islands, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company at the effective time of the Merger, with the Company continuing as the surviving company and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of the Parent (the “Merger”).
  • Each shareholder has one vote for each Ordinary Share.
  • The Merger Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the Transactions, were approved by approximately 99.9% of the total votes cast at the EGM.
  • The Merger is expected to close on or around February 22, 2024, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement.

United Kingdom Legal Services Market Report 2024: Healthy Market Value Growth in 2023, Exports of Legal Services Pass £7 Billion for the First Time - ResearchAndMarkets.com

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 6, 2024

The fourteenth annual edition of the report provides a unique detailed market review and analysis of the UK legal services market, including corporate law, conveyancing, family law, employment, personal injury and wills and probate.

Key Points: 
  • The fourteenth annual edition of the report provides a unique detailed market review and analysis of the UK legal services market, including corporate law, conveyancing, family law, employment, personal injury and wills and probate.
  • In 2023 the UK legal services market registered value growth of 8.3% at current prices reaching £47.5bn.
  • It has been high street law firms and SME law firms that have seen while the largest decrease in numbers.
  • Legal advice for business and commercial matters (including commercial property) is the largest specific market segment taking almost a 50% share of the total UK legal services market value.

Chase named the Official Banking Partner of the Home Nations Football Teams

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Digital bank Chase has today been announced as the Official Banking Partner of the Home Nations Football Teams.

Key Points: 
  • Digital bank Chase has today been announced as the Official Banking Partner of the Home Nations Football Teams.
  • Chase will be working with the England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales Men’s, Women’s, Youth & Para national teams, across a four-year period.
  • The partnerships will see the Chase logo appear on training kit worn by the Men’s and Women’s teams.
  • Chase will also be providing opportunities for customers to get closer to the national teams through memorable experiences at matches and training grounds.

United Kingdom Residential Conveyancing Market Report 2023: Key Issues and New Developments, Market Size and Trends, Key Players, Future Developments, 4 Year Forecasts - ResearchAndMarkets.com

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 22, 2024

The "UK Residential Conveyancing Market Report 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Key Points: 
  • The "UK Residential Conveyancing Market Report 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.
  • The eight annual edition of the report that provides a review of the market, looking at the market structure, key issues and new developments, market size and trends, the key players, future market developments, 4-year forecasts.
  • The UK residential conveyancing market has faced a major downturn in the last two years.
  • According to the law societies, there were 11,226 solicitors working in residential conveyancing in October 2023.

United Kingdom Personal Injury Market Report 2023: Growth is Expected to Remain Relatively Weak in 2023 and 2024 as Claims Volumes Remain Low - ResearchAndMarkets.com

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 22, 2024

This report estimates that the PI market registered a small revenue increase of 3.5% in 2022.

Key Points: 
  • This report estimates that the PI market registered a small revenue increase of 3.5% in 2022.
  • Claims volumes across most sectors of the market are still low while backlogs and delays in cases are increasing the lifecycle of many claims and impacting on cashflows for many firms.
  • Value market growth is expected to remain relatively weak in 2023 and 2024 as claims volumes remain low.
  • This report looks at the market structure, recent developments and market drivers, the key players, the market size, trends, and forecasts.