Analysis: The royal family is stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to the rumour mill surrounding the Princess of Wales, writes Europe correspondent Mei Heron.
As the first video of Princess Catherine emerges since her surgery in January, the extent of the royals’ current PR nightmare is laid bare - even the truth won’t cut it anymore.
As soon as the footage of the princess and her husband, Prince William, walking through a farm store car park with bags of shopping dropped on TMZ and The Sun, social media sleuths were questioning its veracity.
Rumours have been swirling since she took a break from public life following surgery and then came the Mother’s Day Photoshop fail…. but now the first video footage of the royal has emerged. (Source: 1News)
It shows the rumour mill that followed the release of a manipulated photo of the princess and her children earlier this month has well and truly spiralled out of control.
Speculation surrounding Catherine’s months-long absence from public life is no longer confined to the deep, dark corners of the internet. It has spread to the office water coolers and dinner tables.
The people I spoke to on the streets of London today had heard rumours of affairs, estranged love children, secret heirs to the throne, deaths, and terrible haircuts which had left the princess too embarrassed to leave her house.
It proves Kensington Palace has a real dilemma on its hands.
In mid-January the palace announced Catherine underwent “planned abdominal surgery” and would not participate in any public engagements until after Easter, which is about a fortnight away.
Some might argue the only way to put the rumours to bed is to rush the princess out for a public outing well before when they originally scheduled, but that would set a dangerous precedent.
While the royal family might have been trying to be more transparent in recent years, it’s important to remember they are still humans, with the right to privacy and the right to choose what personal health matters they keep to themselves.
But the longer the speculation is allowed to linger, the longer the trust in the royals is eroded.
It means when Catherine finally does officially reappear, and the details surrounding her surgery and lengthy absence are ever revealed, the truth will likely still be doubted by many.
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