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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Jordan King

Kate conspiracy theories continue to spread despite her emotional video statement revealing cancer treatment

Conspiracy theories about the Princess of Wales are continuing to spread despite her revealing that she is being treated for cancer.

Kate spoke in an emotional video message on Friday, when she told the world about her health struggles.

It came after weeks of viral conspiracy theories about where Prince William’s wife was and whether recent photos and videos of her were real.

And conspiracy theories have continued to be shared on social media, despite Kate movingly explaining how she and her family have been having to process her diagnosis.

Some falsely claimed her video was AI-generated with a few even going as far as to doctor Kate’s message to look as if it was coming from Princess Diana or Meghan Markle, to try and prove how easy it would be to alter it.

On top of this, a CNN interview has been circulating, which shows a US doctor, Jonathan Reiner, arguing that Kate’s comments about her health “don’t’ make a lot of medical sense”.

The professor of medicine at George Washington University claimed it was “very likely” her surgical team knew about the cancer before operating, because she would have had to undergo multiple CAT scans and MRIs.

Others discussed whether Kate’s announcement meant the recent images of her – her Mother’s Day photo, a picture of her being driven in a car with William and a clip of her at a farmer’s market in Windsor - were fake.

This includes broadcaster Christopher Bouzy, who claimed: “The palace lied, and the British Press happily helped them lie.

“The countless 'conspiracy theory' headlines, while knowing a lot of what was being said was true. This is really some North Korea/Trumpian type of propaganda.”

He was also one of many who criticised William for not being with his wife during her announcement.

It comes as the former official spokesman of Kate and William, Paddy Harverson, told BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg that the online targeting of Kate was the worst he’s ever seen.

In a statement issued on Saturday night, Kensington Palace said the Prince and Princess of Wales were “enormously touched” and “extremely moved” by the public’s warmth and support following Kate’s announcement.

A spokesperson said: “The prince and princess are both enormously touched by the kind messages from people here in the UK, across the Commonwealth and around the world in response to Her Royal Highness’ message.

“They are extremely moved by the public’s warmth and support and are grateful for the understanding of their request for privacy at this time.”

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