Doctored image of ‘abused’ Kate Middleton was used without Palace permission 

Shocking images of the Duchess of Cambridge as a domestic abuse victim have been plastered across Europe as part of a campaign to end violence against women.

The harrowing photograph, doctored without Palace permission, shows Kate Middleton’s face covered in cuts and bruises and has been seen on bus stops and buildings in Milan and the Spanish southern coastal town of Los Alcazares.

Kensington Palace was unaware that the image of the Duchess was being used as part of the campaign, according to The Sun.

Other high-profile women’s images used for the campaign include US Vice-President Kamala Harris, Queen Letizia of Spain and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen.

Red and white capital letters alongside each image spell out: ‘She reported him.

‘But nobody believed her – but she was left alone. But she was not protected – but he was not stopped. But she was killed anyway.’

Kensington Palace was unaware that the image of the Duchess was being used as part of the campaign, according to The Sun.

It is understood that the images are intended to shock, rather than suggest any of the individuals are victims of domestic violence.

Italian artist and activist Alexsandro Palombo, who edited the pictures, said he wanted to ‘draw attention to the poor responses from politics regarding the problem of gender-based violence’ and underline ‘ineffectiveness of the support and protection system to the victims’.

But some comments on social media were critical: ‘You are not funny. Don’t use images of women who didn’t give you their authorisation,’ said one.