Palace aides blast wild conspiracy theories about Princess Kate’s health branding them ‘madness of social media’
ROYAL aides last night criticised the “madness of social media” as conspiracy theories about the Princess of Wales’ health continue to swirl online.
But officials have still refused to give any further updates on Kate’s well-being, due to medical privacy.
The Princess has not been seen since Christmas Day and is not expected to return to public duties until April as she recovers from abdominal surgery more than six weeks ago.
The internet and social media have been awash with rumours about her — which were stoked further when husband William pulled out of a memorial service on Tuesday over a mystery “personal matter”.
Kensington Palace insists Kate is “doing well” and will only provide significant updates ahead of her return after Easter.
William was yesterday given flowers — and dragon toys for this children — while celebrating St David’s Day in Wrexham.
He said: “I’ll pass them on to Catherine as well. Thank you very much.”
There have been calls for the Palace to be more open about Kate’s surgery and William’s last-minute no-show at this week’s memorial service for former King Constantine of Greece, where he had been due to give a reading.
At the time, the public were advised not to “panic” at the last minute change of plans.
Now Kensington Palace have said: “We were really clear from the start we weren’t going to provide a running commentary on the Princess of Wales’s health and only provide significant updates.
“Obviously, we’ve seen the madness of social media and that is not going to change our strategy.
“There has been much on social media but the Princess has a right to privacy and asks the public to respect that.
“We remind you of the statement in January where it was the Princess of Wales’s wish her medical information would remain private.”
William has previously criticised the “bile” spread on social media and took part in a four-day boycott in April 2021 to highlight abuse and discrimination.
In 2018, he accused social media firms of not being proactive enough about dealing with fake news, privacy issues and cyber-bullying.
He said at the time: “The tools we use to congratulate each other on milestones and successes can also be used to normalise speech that is filled with bile and hate.”
Kate’s long stint out the public eye has sparked many crazy internet rumours and viral memes.
But it is understood she remains at home at Adelaide Cottage, Windsor, recovering with her family.
On Wednesday, January 17, the Palace released a statement announcing she had “planned abdominal surgery”.
Aides have not given the nature of the procedure, but sources say it was “non-cancerous”.
A spokesman at the time said Kate would be out of action until after Easter, which falls at the end of March.
The Palace said: “Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate.
“She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.”
There have been no updates on her condition or recovery since.
‘Maintain normality’
William carried out his second day of engagements this week without his wife by his side.
On Thursday, he apologised at the Western Marble Arch Synagogue, central London, for having to postpone a visit in January with Kate because of her operation.
Yesterday, he visited All Saints School, in Gresford, near Wrexham, where he wore an apron and helped pupils make bara brith, a Welsh tea bread.
He chatted to children, including one who was dressed as a daffodil.
William also visited the village colliery and was shown the memorial to 266 men killed in an explosion and fire in 1934, which remains one of the worst coal mining disasters in British history.
He held hands and chatted to 92-year-old Ruby McBurney, who was two when her father was killed in the disaster.
She spent years campaigning for a memorial.
On a visit to Wrexham AFC, William was given a personalised shirt by Hollywood star Rob McElhenney.
Prince of ales at footie club
PRINCE William pulled a pint, downed a shot of whiskey and cracked jokes with Hollywood actor Rob McElheney yesterday.
Wills, 41, met Rob, 46, who is one of the celebrity owners of the town’s football club, at The Turf pub next to the grounds.