Newsweek Cover Featuring Princess Diana & Kate Middleton Causing Controversy

BOSTON (CBS) - Princess Diana would have been fifty years old on July 1st, and if you ever wondered what she might look like today, the magazine Newsweek has taken out the guess work.

A photo-shopped cover of a fit Diana, walking beside her new daughter-in-law Kate Middleton, will grace the newsstands this week.

But, some already find it over the top.

"It's so beyond the pale in terms of what is acceptable behavior, what should be considered journalism," said Tobe Berkovitz of the Boston University College of Communications.

It's not journalism, perhaps, but fascination with the royals reborn with the marriage of William and Kate.

WBZ-TV's Beth Germano reports.

"Newsweek is trying to cash in on it, but it comes across as seedy. You look at it and wash your hands," he said.

It's not just the cover, but also a Facebook mock-up page. Diana has over 106,000 friends that are the epitome of celebrity from Beckham to Bono.

"I think it's cool, neat, why not think about who she could have been," asked Jessamyn Miller of Brookline.

For Newsweek, Diana would have been caught up in the social media craze, even friending Camilla Parker Bowles.

It's all speculation that might not generate the kind of buzz Newsweek wants.

"It's kind of inappropriate, we should be more respectful with Diana," said Peter Szende.

"In reality she should be laid to rest and left alone," said Ashley Niven.

It's an age-projected photo showing Diana aging well. But, many have committed a different image of Diana to memory.

"I think of her as frozen in time, young, a young mom. I don't think about her aging," said Miller.

The cover isn't sitting well with many readers. Some have posted on Newsweek's website that they intend to cancel their subscription.