Meghan Markle's face may have been photoshopped on their Christmas card, say photo experts

Photography experts and social media observers are claiming the recent Christmas card shared by the Sussexes has Meghan Markle's face photoshopped into it.

The photo sees Meghan's face appear considerably more in focus than that of Prince Harry, although both are sitting roughly the same distance behind Archie.

Harry and Meghan are seen in the monochrome image sitting by a Christmas tree smiling while their seven-month-old royal baby curiously stares into the camera.

According to Daily Mail, it is possible that the image of her face was taken from a similar photograph in the same shoot and then superimposed onto the final picture before release.

Max Cisotti, a photographer since 1991 who has worked with several celebrities, gave his two cents over the confusion.

"Something's not right. It's all to do with the focal plane," he told the outlet. "Harry and Meghan are parallel, so if one is in focus, the other would be. They are side by side — it's not like he's further forward."

"Her face (might have) been Photoshopped from another picture onto that. There are two lights on the baby's face — in his left pupil there are two white reflections," Cisotti explained. "Then we look at the shadow on Meghan. Her left, you can't really see the hairline and all that. All you can see is her face."

According to the photographer, either one of two things has happened.

"One, they deliberately out-of-focused everything, and then have just gone in and enhanced the detail just on her face — which would seem peculiar. I would suggest her face has been Photoshopped from another picture, otherwise, it would be out of focus. They are so far behind, everything else is out of focus," he stated.

"So her face has either been superimposed or enhanced considerably. You cannot change the laws of physics, no matter who you are," Cisotti said in conclusion.

That said, the card first appeared on an unverified Twitter account called The Queen's Commonwealth Trust and was not released via any of the official royal channels.

"Just sharing the sweetest Christmas Card from our President and Vice-President, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Very Merry Christmas, everyone!" the account wrote alongside a moving Gif image, featuring twinkling lights on the Christmas tree.

According to the report, the image was supposedly taken by Meghan and Harry's friend Janina Gavankar. Copies of the same were emailed to family members on December 23.

That said, a spokesperson for the Sussexes has since confirmed the card's authenticity.