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PIERS MORGAN
Princess Kate is a royal rock star who needs protecting – I know how her team could have stopped the crazy conspiracies
This global outbreak of insanity confirms to me something I’ve thought for some time
“THEY’RE saying that video isn’t Kate,” read the text from a very intelligent, media-savvy friend of mine in America. “Is she dead? Be honest!”
I didn’t know whether to laugh, cry or bang my head against a concrete wall.
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Not least because this just was one of literally dozens of similar messages I’ve received from mates all over the world during the past few weeks as the conspiracy theory mayhem surrounding the Princess of Wales has reached fever pitch.
I’ve had major pop stars demanding to know whether the theories are true, experienced political figures sidling up to me at parties whispering completely bonkers royal rumours and my family WhatsApp group chat exploding with such febrile, eye-popping claims that I’m only surprised my phone hasn’t caught fire.
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“No, she’s not dead,” I replied to my American friend, “and yes, that is her in the video.”
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But these two definitive, incontestably factual statements did nothing to allay my friend’s concerns.
And it was at that point I realised nothing would, short of Kate appearing on clutching a verifiable DNA test result to prove she is who she says she is. (For the record, Ma’am, as your humble and obedient servant, I’m available to perform such a selfless duty to my country . . . )
Kate’s a crown jewel that must be protected
Even then, I fear my friend would remain unconvinced, and social media would erupt with a collective wail of “LIARS!”
But weird though this global outbreak of insanity is, it also confirms to me what I’ve thought for some time: Kate Middleton is now the biggest star in the Royal Family and has become a crown jewel who must be protected at all costs.
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I haven’t seen this level of hysteria since Princess Diana was alive, and we all know how that tragically ended.
A new YouGov/Sky News poll shows that Kate’s the most trusted royal, and so far ahead of the ever-more-unpopular Meghan and Harry that the Sussexes would need a telescope to see how further up the trust chart she is than them.
And it’s not difficult to see why; she is the epitome of a perfect princess, barely putting a regal foot wrong and conducting her public duties with remarkable poise, elegance and grace.
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The poll highlighted that women especially love her, and that’s why this latest crisis has hit them so hard; Kate’s army of female fans are genuinely very worried about their favourite royal, desperate for details of how she is, and have grown increasingly susceptible to all the conspiracy nonsense when those details haven’t been forthcoming.
Palace made the issue worse
While two-thirds of Brits think the royals got the balance of information release about right with King Charles’s illness, far fewer said the same for Kate’s and a third of those polled don’t think the Palace disclosed enough.
I understand the Princess’s desire to keep her health issue secret, as any woman would, and her strong-willed husband’s even greater desire to stop the media finding out, but by not saying anything, they’ve made the scrutiny and rumour-mongering a million times worse.
As with the Mother’s Day edited photo fiasco, transparency in this modern era of unregulated social media platforms such as X is always going to be better than suppression.
The good old days of “never complain, never explain” worked when there was no social media. It won’t work now, as we’ve seen.
If I was working in those Palace press offices, my constant mantra to the royals would be this: Get the real news out there to stop the fake news spreading or reap the unfortunate consequences.
To those who say, “but they’re entitled to their privacy!”, I would simply say this: Of course they are, but being a senior working member of the Royal Family is a public job paid for with taxpayer money.
It brings great perks — the palaces, servants, trinkets and adulation.
But it also carries with it great responsibilities and accountability.
Media attitude has changed
It’s important to note that since Diana died, the royals have enjoyed massively enhanced levels of privacy.
Even her brother Earl Spencer, who made that media-excoriating address at her funeral, has suggested as much during interviews for his new book.
It may not seem like it, but it’s much easier to be a royal these days.
The British media largely doesn’t take or publish intrusive photos or footage of them any more, and the current royal children are considered totally off limits in a way that never applied to their predecessors.
When a paparazzi picture of Kate in her mum’s car on the school run two weeks ago was published in America, nobody in Britain used it.
But recent events have shown the media/royal game has irrevocably changed, and the Palace needs to change with it.
All the crazy conspiracy stuff could have been avoided if they had said from the start exactly what Kate’s health issue is, and her press team should have persuaded her to agree.
That may not be “fair” on Kate but what part of the insanely intrusive onslaught she has received for not sharing the information has been “fair”?
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Just as all the fallout from the Mother’s Day photo could have been prevented if the Palace had checked with Kate if she had done any editing when she sent it over to them. The fact they didn’t do that when the picture was supposed to quash conspiracy theories is mind-boggling to me.
The royals’ biggest star needs better protection, and as she prepares to re-enter public life, that needs to start right now.
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