Friends of the Princess of Wales say it is ‘almost desperate’ that she had to open up about her cancer diagnosis to the nation last week, after weeks of cruel conjecture about her wellbeing on social media.
Those close to Princess Catherine say she was ‘so honest’ in speaking to the public about her health battle after the ‘whole world has been gossiping about her’.
The future Queen dramatically announced she was undergoing ‘preventative’ chemotherapy after she was found to have cancer following major abdominal surgery in January.
While her main motivation was the wellbeing of her young family, some friends have suggested Kate also wanted to ‘be able to carry on’ with her life as normally as possible without constant questions.
It comes as one leading expert said the princess had been ‘revictimised’ by conspiracy theorists, while a former royal advisor said the speculation about her was ‘the worst I’ve ever seen’.
The Prince and Princess of Wales pictured with their young children George, Charlotte and Louis at their country home Anmer Hall in Norfolk in 2020
Princess Catherine pictured meeting farmers at Brodieshill Farm in Moray, Scotland, in November 2023
Friends of the 42-year-old has revealed their anger at the social media frenzy that has accompanied her health problems over the last couple of months.
Sources at Kensington Palace have made it clear that by making her diagnosis public knowledge that Kate was putting her family first, and in particular, her three children Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five.
It is understood the announcement was made on Friday because it allowed Kate’s children to break up from school and give the Waleses the opportunity to take them to her family home in Norfolk, where they will spend the Easter holidays in private.
However, some close to the princess say the reason she revealed so much information was, in part, to silence those who had been cruelly speculating about her.
‘Catherine’s message was so honest,’ one friend told The Sunday Times.
‘Isn’t it sad that she has to be so honest and share that because of all the nonsense that has been around?
‘I feel like the whole world has been gossiping about her and there is so much bullshit out there about her and her family.
‘It was almost desperate that she had to do it.’
Another friend, who Kate confided in before announcing her diagnosis to the public, said the ‘drama’ of the last few weeks wasn’t the main driving force behind her decision, even though ‘obviously that has been upsetting’.
‘She felt she had to do it because of who she is. It was more that she knows she is a public figure and has a wider leadership responsibility,’ they told the publication.
They added: ‘She also wants to be able to carry on with as active and normal a routine as possible.’
It comes as backlash continues against the conspiracy theorists who are in a ‘permanent doom loop’ on social media circulating rumours about the future Queen.
Thousands of people have taken part in the speculation around Kate’s wellbeing, with high profile figures such as Kim Kardashian and actress Blake Lively also weighing in.
The social media frenzy took hold after a photo of Kate with her children released on Mother’s Day was shown to be photoshopped, with the Princess of Wales later saying she had edited it
Actress Blake Lively apologised for taking part in the rumour frenzy around the Princess of Wales after her cancer diagnosis was announced
Kim Kardashian also took part in the speculation, jokingly writing she was ‘on her way to go find Kate’
One former palace adviser has said the frenzy online is the ‘worst he has ever seen’ as shameless trolls continue to spread bizarre new posts about her cancer video.
Paddy Harverson, who was previously the official spokesperson for King Charles and Prince William,
Speaking about the speculation and pressure that has mounted over the last couple of months, and in some quarters continues despite Kate’s announcement, he said: ‘It’s a sort of permanent doom loop. And it’s the worst I’ve ever seen.’
Speaking of Kate’s emotional video statement filmed in the gardens of Windsor Castle, he added: ‘I’m absolutely convinced that if we hadn’t had all the madness and social media, if we hadn’t had the sort of the Mother’s Day photo mistake, they would have still done it like this.’
Meanwhile, one expert in countering online extremism said the mother-of-three had essentially been ‘revictimised’ by the reaction to her video.
Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, said: ‘When you’ve got a young lady, the Princess of Wales, who has suffered a medical emergency, you see people flooding in with conspiracy theories, you see them being amplified on social media platforms and pushed to millions and millions of people.
‘What really, I think, annoyed me was seeing that she was then being revictimised by being blamed for not having come out immediately.
‘Of course a family needs to have its time and its privacy. I think it’s the inhumanity of the way that social media has made us behave, forcing people to talk about things that can be very deeply personal.
‘And also seeing of course the impact of that on our society, how quickly it was picked up by millions of people, and how much it’s done damage to the Royal family themselves.’
Ex-palace adviser Paddy Harverson said the speculation and pressure about Kate’s health and whereabouts is ‘worst I have ever seen’
Speaking on BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuennsberg, Mr Harverson said the social and mainstream media ‘feeds off itself’
The video has been reposted on social media by cruel trolls with Princess Diana and Meghan Markle’s face superimposed over the top of Kate’s in an attempt to ‘prove’ the simplicity of creating a deepfake video.
Claims a video from seven years ago appearing to show Kate wearing the same jumper was used as template to create the AI has also been ridiculed by social media users.
Linda Yaccarino, X chief executive, posted in support of Kate following her announcement on Friday evening.
She called her video ‘brave’ which was ‘delivered by Princess Kate with her signature grace’.
Yaccarino wrote: ‘Her request for privacy, to protect her children and allow her to move forward (without endless speculation) seems like a reasonable request to respect.’
Yet some were left incandescent with rage by Yaccarino’s tweet and called her a hypocrite.
Former BBC journalist Simon McCoy said: ‘Your platform has been used to promote conspiracy theories – and worse. Your hypocrisy is astounding.’
Another added: ‘It’s ridiculous that while battling cancer, Kate has to record such a video because of run-away conspiracy theories and the trolls that perpetuate them.’
Princess Kate and her family have found sanctuary in their home Anmer Hall (pictured), as she goes through cancer treatment
The Princess of Wales said her family (pictured together on December 25) ‘need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment’
Twitter’s former UK and Europe boss Bruce Daisley told The Sunday Times said the ‘more serious issue’ was how X’s algorithms promote untrustworthy content.
‘It is notably more potent since [Elon] Musk arrived,’ he said.
‘In truth, Musk doesn’t care. He’s demonstrated he doesn’t think about the consequences of anything he does.’
Damian Collins, the Conservative MP who formerly chaired the digital, culture, media and sport committee, said ‘the trouble with these platforms is they recommend content to capture engagement, hold people’s attention to make money out of it’.
‘And if a clickbait story, based on conspiracy theories, grabs people’s attention, then they’re more interested in that than promoting news,’ he said.
The theories – dubbed #KateGate – 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.
Matters were not helped when pic agency Getty Images later said that an image of Queen Elizabeth II sitting with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, also taken by Kate, had been ‘digitally enhanced at source’.
Kate’s cancer battle in her own words: The Princess of Wales’ emotional video statement in full
I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have been recovering from surgery.
It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I¿ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful.
In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.
This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.
As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to
George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok.
As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits.
Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.
We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.
At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.
