Archbishop of Canterbury says Kate Middleton conspiracy theories are nothing more than 'old

Release time：2024-05-08 07:41:08 Source：Culture Corner news portal

The Archbishop of Canterbury has called conspiracy theories about the Princess of Wales nothing more than 'old-fashioned village gossip' - while Keir Starmer urged the public to 'butt out' and let her rest. 

Online speculation has spread in recent weeks about the whereabouts of Kate, 42, while she continues to recover from abdominal surgery, with palace aides saying they would not comment on her recovery. 

However, the princess was captured on camera by a member of the public walking cheerily with Prince William outside Windsor Farm Shop on Saturday, reportedly looking 'super relaxed'. 

Conspiracy theories about Kate have continued to spread like wildfire since her outing this weekend, with some claiming the footage was not of Kate but instead a lookalike of the royal. 

The Archbishop of Canterbury has slammed the 'gossip', saying that speculating about the health of the princess is 'wrong'. 

He told Times Radio: 'I think we are obsessed by conspiracy and we have little sense of the humanity of those who are caught in the glare of the news. 

The Princess of Wales, 42, continues to recover from abdominal surgery at home 

The Archbishop of Canterbury (pictured) has called conspiracy theories about the Princess of Wales nothing more than 'old-fashioned village gossip'

'People should be allowed to be ill, have an operation, whatever it is, and live their lives in peace without people demanding they prove something every other day.' 

He added: 'It's extremely unhealthy. It's just old-fashioned village gossip that can now go round the world in seconds and we have to turn away from that.

'Gossiping in that way is wrong.'

Sir Keir also urged the public to stop speculating about Kate's health, telling them to 'leave her alone'.  

Asked if he feels sorry for Kate, he told Channel 5's Jeremy Vine: 'Yes. I think that we should leave her alone.

'She's had a difficult operation, and she deserves privacy.'

He added: 'We should just butt out and leave her alone... That's not really a political response, it's a human response, as a dad and a human being.'

There had been hopes the video would put to bed concerns about her health and discredit the bizarre, baseless and hurtful conspiracy theories being spread about her online.

One royal source told the Telegraph: 'Finally everyone can calm down.' 

However, theories continue to proliferate now that the video has been published.

Among the speculation being circulated by cruel trolls are that the Princess has died, or is using a body double or even her sister Pippa as a stand-in. Unkind provocateurs have even suggested that she is in a coma or being faked with AI.

The theories became frenzied after the release of a photograph on her official social media channels for Mother's Day, when it became clear that the picture had been modified using Adobe Photoshop.

Several picture agencies issued rare 'kill' notices for the photo because it had been substantially altered - with online wannabe detectives pointing out the flaws in the photograph, which Kate said she edited herself.

Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) urged the public to 'butt out' of Kate's private life and let her rest

Kensington Palace released the first picture of the Princess of Wales since surgery on Mother's Day - but it only fuelled more unwarranted conspiracy theories about her health

Kate was seen on Christmas Day 2023 with her family attending church at Sandringham before undergoing surgery in January

Matters were not helped when picture agency Getty Images said over the weekend that an image of Queen Elizabeth II sitting with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, also taken by Kate, had been 'digitally enhanced at source'.

And despite video being obtained by The Sun showing William and Kate walking happily through the car park of the Windsor Farm Shop, social media remains unsatisfied that she is recovering well.

EXCLUSIVEREAD MORE: Patient medical records were 'easily available' to doctors and nurses but 'stored securely' at London Clinic, watchdog found - amid probe into Kate Middleton private data 'breach' 

X, formerly Twitter, is awash with 'verified' users posting scarcely believable theories about Kate.  

Kate has been working from home on an early years project hailed as her 'life's work' while recovering from abdominal surgery, it was reported today. 

The princess launched the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood's (RFCEC) Shaping Us project in January last year, aiming to highlight the importance of early years development in children.

Kensington Palace has confirmed Kate is continuing to work on the project as she recovers at home; the Centre has funded a trial of a baby observation tool for health visitors to monitor social and emotional development in youngsters. 

It comes as three London Clinic workers who are under investigation by management over claims they tried to access Kate's private medical records are believed to have been suspended.

Medical records are 'easily available' to doctors and nurses at the prestigious hospital where a member of staff allegedly tried to look up details about the princess, a Care Quality Commission report revealed.

But CQC inspectors concluded that patient records were 'stored securely' at the London Clinic where Kate underwent her planned abdominal surgery and stayed for 13 days in January.

Their report also praised staff for treating patients with 'compassion and dignity' and respecting their 'privacy and dignity'.

It revealed that the unannounced inspection was carried out in June 2021 after the CQC 'received information that gave us concerns about the safety and quality of services.'

The report added: 'Those concerns arose from several never events and serious incidents and numerous whistle-blowers around staffing and culture.'

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