Sunak criticises online trolls for ‘intense scrutiny’ of future queen
Rishi Sunak criticised online conspiracy theorists last night for placing the Princess of Wales under “intense scrutiny” in recent months. He made the comments after the Princess announced that she had been diagnosed with cancer.
There was intense online speculation about her health after it emerged earlier this year that she was to have abdominal surgery and would be stepping back from public duties until at least after Easter. Conspiracy theories about the Princess’s medical condition and her whereabouts proved difficult to quell and the trolling only intensified when Kensington Palace issued a photograph of Kate with her children to mark Mother’s Day.
Within hours of its release, photographic agencies said it had been edited, and the Princess had to issue a statement accepting that she had made minor alterations to the image. The Prime Minister said yesterday that Kate had been “subjected to intense scrutiny and has been unfairly treated by certain sections of the media around the world and
The online trolling of Kate only intensified when Kensington Palace issued a photograph of her with her children to mark Mother’s Day
on social media”. He added that the Princess has “the love and support of the whole country”.
The Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, also condemned the “lurid speculation” that had surrounded the Princess.
He said: “Any cancer diagnosis is shocking. But I can only imagine the added stress of receiving that news amid the lurid speculation we’ve seen in recent weeks.”
The maternal uncle of the Princess of Wales said he hoped Kate’s cancer announcement “draws a line over the continued speculation and horrible conspiracies” after weeks of public speculation about her health. Gary Goldsmith said: “Let’s give Kate, William and the children time and show some love back.” Mr Goldsmith, who was the first contestant evicted from ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother, also pulled out of his appearance in the ITV reality show’s live final last night.
Rumours online about the whereabouts of Kate intensified after the Prince of Wales missed, at very short notice, a memorial service for his godfather, the late King Constantine of Greece, on 27 February.
It is now understood that William’s decision not to attend was related to his wife’s condition, but it is not known when the Princess was told about her positive cancer test.