Princess Diana’s brother Charles Spencer spoke out about the conspiracy theories surrounding Kate Middleton’s whereabouts following her “planned abdominal surgery.”
“I do worry about what happened to the truth,” Spencer, 59, told BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.
Middleton, who is the wife of Spencer’s nephew Prince William, has been the subject of rumors online since she took a break from her royal duties in January.
In a new interview with BBC that aired Sunday, Spencer said, “I do worry about what happened to the truth.”Twitter/KensingtonRoyal
Royal watchers grew concerned about Middleton’s well-being after an “altered” image of her and her kids was shared on March 10.Prince of Wales/Kensington Palac / MEGA
After Middleton was spotted in a blurry photo snapped earlier this month, royal watchers started speculating that the image had been Photoshopped.
Then, when she posted an “altered” photo of herself and the three children she shares with Prince William — Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5 — on March 10, rumors about her well-being hit a fever pitch.
Middleton later admitted to doctoring the image, and while Kensington Palace said in its initial statement after her surgery that the princess would not be making public appearances until “after Easter,” the general public has become more concerned with each passing day.
Middleton has been taking a break from her royal duties since undergoing a “planned abdominal surgery” in January.Balkis Press/ABACA/Shutterstock
In his interview, Spencer compared the “conspiracy” theories online to the “press intrusion” surrounding his sister Diana’s death.Steve Back/Daily Mail/Shutterstock
Late night talk show host John Oliver even joked that Middleton may have “died” and the palace is trying to cover it up.
Spencer compared the current level of the “online kind of conspiracy” to the “press intrusion” surrounding his sister Diana’s death during his interview. King Charles III’s ex-wife was 36 when she died in a fatal car crash in August 1997 in Paris after being chased into a tunnel by paparazzi.
“I think it was more dangerous back in the day,” Spencer said.
Diana, who was married to King Charles III before she died, was killed in a car crash in August 1997.Getty Images
She was chased into a tunnel by paparazzi.PA Images via Getty Images
“If I look back to ’97 and Diana’s death, I think that was so shocking, the circumstance of her death was so shocking, that it did make the industry that supports the paparazzi really consider more carefully what it could and couldn’t do.”
“Not because they had a moral judgment, but because it was unacceptable to the public.”
Kensington Palace nor Middleton have specifically addressed the theories surrounding her whereabouts. However, a recent report claimed Middleton will likely address the widespread concerns over her health and well-being when she returns to public duty after March 31.
“I think it was more dangerous back in the day,” Spencer said.AP
“If I look back to ’97 and Diana’s death, I think that was so shocking, the circumstance of her death was so shocking, that it did make the industry that supports the paparazzi really consider more carefully what it could and couldn’t do,” he said.GoodBadRugby/YouTube
“I can see a world in which the princess might discuss her recovery out on engagements,” a royal source told the Sunday Times over the weekend, noting that she and Prince William are “at their most open” when out interacting with members of the public.
“If she was going to do it, that’s how she would do it,” the insider added, while noting that they will only speak out when “they feel” ready.
“I would expect that to be her instinct and it will be her call. They’re not going to be rushed.”
