Visual media agency Getty Images has been forced to explain why it added an editorial note to a video of the Princess of Wales revealing her cancer diagnosis.

The note was discovered on Monday and sparked an immediate reaction online, following controversy over the release of edited photos of the royal family. International agencies have withdrawn a Mother’s Day photo of Kate with her children after Buckingham Palace admitted it had been digitally altered.

On Getty Images’ version of the video of Kate telling the nation about her cancer diagnosis, a new note reads: “This handout clip was provided by a third-party organization and may not adhere to Getty Images’ editorial policies.”

Getty did not immediately provide any further details, but has now provided an explanation after some users jumped on the note as an opportunity to further propose bizarre conspiracy theories surrounding the princess’ condition. “Of course Kate Middleton’s video is fake: Getty adds addendum suggesting video isn’t legitimate…Kensington Palace stumbles in the dark,” one wrote.

“Getty Images has added an editorial note to a video of Kate Middleton in which she reveals she has cancer. The note states that the clip “may not comply with its editorial policies.” Why on earth would they do this? ? asked a user on X (formerly Twitter).

Getty said the video was tagged in a way that is standard practice for third-party organizations, in this case Kensington Palace, that provide content to it.

Some X posts about Getty videos have now been modified based on readers’ own comments. Underneath one of the posts was a message: “This is the standard disclaimer Getty Images uses when distributing videos provided by third parties.”

According to Buckingham Palace, BBC Studios recorded a video of Kate announcing to the public that she had cancer on March 20, just two days before it was released. BBC Studios issued a brief statement confirming they had filmed the footage.

“BBC Studios filmed a message from the Princess of Wales in Windsor this week. We wish Her Royal Highness a speedy recovery,” the statement read.

Last month, the Princess of Wales announced in a video statement that she had begun preventive chemotherapy. She told other cancer patients: “You are not alone.”

“I had major abdominal surgery in London in January and my condition was not thought to be cancerous,” Kate explains in the video. “The surgery was successful. However, post-surgery tests revealed that cancer was already present. Therefore, my medical team recommended that I should undergo a course of preventive chemotherapy, and I am now in the early stages of treatment.”

In the video, the 42-year-old said the cancer diagnosis was a “huge shock” to her family.

Her announcement was met with an outpouring of support from around the world, including from US President Joe Biden and King Charles III, who is also undergoing cancer treatment.

An earlier photo of Kate and her children taken by the Prince of Wales was the first picture released since the princess’ abdominal surgery and was released by the palace to mark Mother’s Day.

The princess publicly took responsibility for editing family photos and issued a personal apology for the “mess”.

“Like many amateur photographers, I occasionally try my hand at editing,” Kate says. “I would like to apologize for any confusion caused by the family photos we shared yesterday. I hope everyone celebrating had a happy Mother’s Day. C.”