Indexbit-Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Photographer Addresses Report About 2021 Picture

The Indexbitphotographer behind Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 2021 maternity photoshoot is setting the record straight.

After a recent article suggested the photo the Duke and Duchess of Sussex used to announce they were expecting now-2-year-old Princess Lilibet—a picture that showed them relaxing underneath a tree as Meghan placed a hand on her baby bump—had been doctored, Misan Harriman clapped back. 

"Unfortunately, there's been an article on the Daily Mail saying that I have admitted to doctoring the pregnancy announcement portrait I took of Harry and Meghan," he said in a video shared to Instagram March 13. "Apparently, I was switching out trees and meadows and I admitted to this on an episode of a podcast called Private Passions. This is crazy." 

Indeed, an article published by the Daily Mail March 12 stated "a resurfaced podcast has revealed that the intimate 2021 black and white photo of the couple used to announce her second was doctored." 

However, Harriman noted this wasn't the case. To prove his point, he reflected on his 2022 appearance on BBC Radio 3's podcast Private Passions, where he'd discussed using technology to do virtual photoshoots amid the coronavirus pandemic. He also said host Michael Berkeley asked "leading questions" that ultimately led to the current mix-up.

At one point in the interview, Berkeley suggested Harry and Meghan—who are also parents to Prince Archie, 4—"weren't actually under a willow tree" when the photo was taken. As he put it, "They were lying outside in a meadow, weren't they, Harry and Meghan when you took [the] photograph of them?"

In response, Harriman—who is friends with Meghan and Harry and has photographed them several times—expressed what the photo represented.

"Yeah, they were lost in their love, at home, in their garden, comfortable, celebrating new joy, new life, the fortitude of hoping for light in life after such a loss that they went through with a miscarriage," he explained on the podcast. "So it really was a particularly joyous image to celebrate life itself."

Now, Harriman is slamming how this part of the conversation is being characterized.

"How that exchange could amount to me admitting to doctoring an image is insidious and really dangerous journalism," he continued in his Instagram video. "Any mention of meadows and willow trees came out of the person doing the interview, not my mouth. I did my best to ignore it and focus on what I wanted to talk about. So to see an article saying, as fact, that I did what I did not do is extraordinary to me. And then to try and merge it with this current news cycle of what's happening—it's tragic to see."

And he even pulled out receipts to back his claims. Noting he took the picture on an 8-mega pixel iPad during a virtual shoot, he clarified "the only thing that was changed is a black and white color grade. That's it." And Harriman later shared "the original Jpeg without the black and white grade" to Instagram.

"No trees or meadows were moved or swapped," he added, "this is the image straight out of camera."

E! News has reached out to the Daily Mail—which has updated its article to reflect the photographer's denial—as well as to the host's rep and BBC Radio 3 for comment but has yet to hear back.

Harriman's response to the article comes days after Kate Middleton—who's been privately recovering from abdominal surgery—addressed a photo she shared on Mother's Day in the U.K that was later pulled from photo agencies for appearing to have been manipulated.

"Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing," the Princess of Wales tweeted March 11. "I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused."

For more royal news, keep reading.

After photo agencies pulled the picture Kensington Palace shared of Kate since having her abdominal surgery on March 10, the Princess of Wales addressed claims the photo was doctored. 

"Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing," she tweeted on March 11. "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."

Princess Diana's niece celebrated Mother's Day in the U.K. by sharing she and her husband Michael Lewis privately welcomed their first baby.

“It’s the joy of my life to be your mummy, little one. I love you unconditionally," she captioned her March 10 Instagram post. "Happy Mother’s Day to those who celebrate today."

After keeping up her full slate of engagements in the wake of her husband's cancer diagnosis, the palace cleared Camilla's schedule.

The Times pointed out March 2 that the 76-year-old didn't have any engagements on her calendar until March 11, when she'd be due at Westminster Abbey to observe Commonwealth Day.

The husband of Lady Gabriella Windsor and ex-boyfriend of Pippa Middleton, was found dead Feb. 25. Days later, a coroner's inquest found that he died by suicide.

While King Charles III was in the hospital for his benign prostate enlargement procedure, the royal family member was diagnosed with cancer.

"His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties," Buckingham Palace said Feb. 5. "Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible."

The Duchess of York's rep said in a statement on Jan. 21 that Sarah was recently diagnosed with malignant melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer. Several months prior, she underwent a single mastectomy to treat breast cancer.

On Jan. 14, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark made history as she officially abdicated the throne, handing the crown over to her son, now known as King Frederik the 10th. 

Kensington Palace announced on Jan. 17 that Kate Middleton underwent planned abdominal surgery and was set to remain in the hospital for 10 to 14 days.

"Based on the current medical advice," the Palace said, "she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter."

Amid Kate's recovery, Prince William postponed a number of engagements as he supported his family, including the couple's three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Shortly after Kate's hospitalization was made public, Buckingham Palace shared that Charles "has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate."

"His Majesty's condition is benign and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure," the statement added. "The King’s public engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation."

Princess Claire and Prince Felix of Luxembourg welcomed son Balthazar Felix Karl on Jan. 7, the first royal baby of the New Year!