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Photo of Catherine, Duchess of Cornwall, Allegedly Manipulated, According to News Agencies
An image of Catherine, Princess of Wales, with her three children has sparked controversy after news agencies revealed that the photo had been manipulated by Kensington Palace before its release. The Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse advised news organizations to remove the photo from their platforms due to the alterations made by the palace.
The photograph, intended to show Catherine’s recovery from surgery, was distributed by Kensington Palace on Sunday morning and quickly circulated on news sites and social media. However, closer inspection by the news agencies raised concerns about the authenticity of the image, leading to a “kill notification” from the A.P. urging its removal.
Despite requests for comment, Kensington Palace remained silent on the matter. The palace had previously stated that the photo was taken by Prince William at Windsor, where the royal couple resides in Adelaide Cottage on the grounds of Windsor Castle.
The controversy surrounding the manipulated photo has added to the mystery surrounding Catherine, who has been out of the public eye since undergoing surgery. Speculation about her health has intensified, especially after recent events like William canceling engagements and the British Army retracting statements about her participation in events.
The A.P. pointed out inconsistencies in the photo, specifically in the alignment of Princess Charlotte’s hand, raising questions about the authenticity of the image. News agencies have strict guidelines against altering photos, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the integrity of visual content.
Catherine’s absence and the lack of information about her condition have fueled rumors and conspiracy theories online, further complicating the situation for the royal family. The timing of the photo’s release on Mother’s Day was meant to provide reassurance, but instead, it has created more uncertainty and scrutiny.
As questions continue to swirl, the royal family faces challenges in maintaining trust and credibility with the public. The implications of this manipulated photo extend beyond a simple image, impacting the perception of transparency and honesty in future communications from the palace. The scrutiny over this incident highlights the delicate balance between privacy and public disclosure in the realm of royal duties.
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Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?
The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.
This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.
In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?
Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.
Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?
With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:
Prices may rise again
If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.
But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.
Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.
You may be able to make a quick profit
Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.
Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.
There are other benefits of investing in gold
There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:
- Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
- Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.
The bottom line
Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.