Princess Kate Flubbed Photoshop. Off with Her Head!

Princess Kate and her pals at the palace are in hot water.In case you’ve missed the relentless news coverage, here’s the story…

A bunch of news agencies ran the photo but then pulled it because they discovered digital alterations

The Princess fessed up in a social media post, saying she “occasionally experiments with editing.” She apologized for “any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused.”

The reaction across media — mainstream and social — was fast and furious.

(Example: A New York Post headline that said, “Kate Middleton’s Photoshop fail fiasco is a ’cause for concern’: ‘Everybody is worried about her'”)

You’d a thunk Kate killed Bambi.

(Spoiler alert: She didn’t. )

My reaction: Boredom and bemusement. Much ado about not much.

All the analysis from conspiracy theorists and “pundits” (often one and the same) gets old in a hurry.

But after a while, you can’t help but see the humor in it.

Last night I head a comedian say, “I knew the picture was fake right away. How did I know? All three kids are smiling!”

That’s funny!

(I have lots of family photos with frowning, “get-this-over-with!” children to prove it!)

So you may be wondering…

“If Tom thinks this is boring and bemusing and much ado about not much, why is he writing an email about it?”

Because stories ripped from the headlines grab people’s attention.

People ask me all the time: Where do you come up with enough story ideas to write daily emails?

Lots of places, I reply. My news feed is one of those places.

When I open the doors to Club Storyville later this month, I’ll share Stories Behind the Stories — videos where I break down an email and reveal the strategies and tactics I used to create it. That includes how I came up with the story idea.

Club Storyville will open later this month. Stay tuned for details.