Fake rumours about Kate Middleton circulating on the internet are “cruel” and upsetting for her, a former BBC royal correspondent has said.
In January, Britain’s Princess of Wales spent two weeks in hospital after undergoing abdominal surgery.
Kensington Palace said the procedure had gone well and Kate would spend a few months recovering at home before resuming public duties again.
Since then, the internet has been awash with rumours about her; questioning whether she is alive or whether she is even ill at all.
Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said the speculation was nonsense.
“What do you want the woman to do? Do you want her to rip off her clothes and show us her scars?” Ms Bond said.
“I think it became cruel and I think she became very upset by it but she’s a cheerful woman, she’s a confident woman and hopefully this hasn’t knocked her back too far - either physically or mentally.”
A statement from Kensington Palace pic.twitter.com/6h3BCrqj5L
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) January 17, 2024
Over the weekend, The Sun published video footage of Kate and her husband out and about in their local town of Windsor.
Ms Bond said she thought the video was “reassuring” but even then, some people refused to believe it was her.
“It was definitely Catherine,” Ms Bond said.
“Despite the internet trolls still picking it apart saying, ‘This is not Catherine, it is an imposter, it is a double.’
“This was Catherine and William going to the shop very near their home at the weekend, doing a little shopping.
“I think it probably is designed to show she is around and is improving and all these ridiculous theories are just that - quite absurd.”
Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months.
Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day. C
📸 The Prince of Wales, 2024 pic.twitter.com/6DywGBpLLQ— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 10, 2024
Given the couple were not at an official function, Ms Bond said news organisations have been thinking “quite hard” about whether to publish it.
In the end, it was too good a scoop for The Sun to resist.
“Most people decided they would run it because the public needed reassurance that she is on the mend,” she said.
“Just as the palace have always said it’s going to be a long-time to get over the operation but, clearly, she’s making good progress.”
‘Never complain, never explain’ was for many years the unofficial motto of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
It is, Ms Bond believes, no longer a practical approach for a member of the British royal family to take in the era of social media.
“I think it’s terribly sad because a woman has a serious operation and if she wants to keep it private, she should be allowed to do just that and recover in her own time,” Ms Bond said.
“Unfortunately, in the real world the void has filled with these absurd rumours and then the mainstream media started reporting these rumours - which I think was sad.
“So, I think four or five weeks ago, the palace should have done what they did with Charles, which is perhaps have a photo taken of her looking at get well cards - or something like that.”
Kensington Palace has said Kate will likely begin public engagements again after Easter.
Main image: The Princess of Wales greets well-wishers after attending the Christmas service at St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham. December 25, 2023. Picture by: Alamy.com
