Kate Middleton latest: Piers Morgan comments on conspiracy theory row as Archbishop calls it ‘village gossip’

Piers Morgan has issued a fierce defence of the ”royal rock star Kate” following a week of frenzied public attention.

The Princess of Wales has been subject to wild conspiracy theories over her withdrawal from public life as she recovers from abdominal surgery which she underwent in January.

“Kate Middleton is now the biggest star in the Royal Family and has become a crown jewel who must be protected at all costs,” Mr Morgan wrote in The Sun.

With the memory of their mother still casting a long shadow, both Harry and William are determined to do things their own way.

But, asks Tessa Dunlop, after a week of turmoil and many questions left unanswered, does this spell trouble in a world where there are now more palaces than major royal players?

Sir Keir told Channel 5’s Jeremy Vine: “We should just butt out and leave her alone… That’s not really a political response, it’s a human response, as a dad and a human being.”

Nelson Silva, 40, said he saw a “relaxed” princess with his “own eyes” as she shopped with William in the meat section of the upmarket grocery on the Windsor Park estate on Saturday.

First came the “royal health shock” headlines when palace officials announced that King Charles III and Kate, the Princess of Wales, both had health troubles.

An absence of information about Kate’s health and whereabouts then fueled an increasingly frenzied rumor mill that made its way from the fringes of social media to frontpages around the world.

Distrust of the monarchy only intensified after Kate admitted that she edited an official family photo, and palace officials have struggled to regain control of the narrative as conjecture and conspiracy theories persist.

Here is a timeline of recent events relating to the royal family:

The Archbishop of Canterbury has joined a growing chorus of voices urging more privacy for the Princess of Wales as she continues to recover from surgery.

Justin Welby branded the conspiracy theories surrounding Kate during her absence from the public eye as “old-fashioned village gossip” and said people who have health concerns should be allowed “to live their lives in peace”.

Buckingham Palace has posted a vacancy for a communications assistant amid frenzied national and global speculation regarding the Princess of Wales.

The job, which was posted over a week ago on the royal household’s website, is based at the palace and pays over £25,000 per year.

One of the main roles includes “responding to day to day media enquiries on a range of subjects, including about the work of members of the Royal Family”.

Other essential criteria include an “eye for detail” and the “ability to thrive in a fast-paced and dynamic environment”.

The job application closes on 7 April.

First came the “royal health shock” headlines when palace officials announced that King Charles III and Kate, the Princess of Wales, both had health troubles. An absence of information about Kate’s health and whereabouts then fueled an increasingly frenzied rumor mill that made its way from the fringes of social media to frontpages around the world.

Distrust of the monarchy only intensified after Kate admitted that she edited an official family photo, and palace officials have struggled to regain control of the narrative as conjecture and conspiracy theories persist.