Paddy Harverson led communications for the Prince of Wales Office for nearly a decade (Picture: PA)
A former Royal palace adviser has lashed out at the rampant speculation and conspiracy theories circling around the Princess of Wales.
Paddy Harverson, who was the official spokesperson for King Charles and Prince William, said the frenzy is ‘the worst I’ve ever seen’.
Speaking on BBC One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, he said social media and mainstream media both share responsibility for the situation.
‘Well, it feeds off itself … It’s a sort of permanent doom loop. And it’s the worst I’ve ever seen.’
Kate’s announcement of her cancer diagnosis on Friday sparked an outpouring of support from the public.
It followed weeks of intense speculation over her health and whereabouts as she was not seen or heard from publicly for some time after undergoing abdominal surgery in January.
Some commentators have suggested the princess may have felt pressured into making the announcement, particularly after the royals received blowback for issuing a doctored family photography in the interim.
Kate’s cancer announcement has sharpened criticism of the rampant speculation over her health (Picture: BBC Studios)
But Mr Harverson insisted the family would have made the announcement the same way even without the furore.
He added: ‘I’m absolutely convinced that if we hadn’t had all the madness and social media, if we hadn’t had the Mother’s Day photo mistake, they would have still done it like this.
‘They would have still waited till this last Friday when the schools are breaking up to make the announcement.’
Mr Harverson, now a policy and PR executive, said he was confident the royals will overcome the double cancer diagnosis for Kate and her father-in-law.
Kate received the diagnosis after undergoing abdominal surgery at the London Clinic in January (Picture: Anadolu)
‘So, everyone just needs to sort of understand that they will still be busy, they will get over this,’ he said. ‘I am highly confident that the king, who I know well, is incredibly strong, very resilient, a great spiritual person, so I know he’ll get through it.’
‘Likewise with the princess, with Kate, I think once they’re through this sticky patch, I think we’ll get back to normal.
‘I think the nation just needs to adjust, and the media, and everyone who follows this, to a smaller family but still very busy doing what they do in their own way.’
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