Rachel Johnson, sister of former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has cast doubt on the authenticity of a recent video showing Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, shopping at a farm shop near her Windsor home. In a column for the Evening Standard, Johnson claimed that she noticed "a few red flags" in the footage, which has led her to question whether the woman in the video was indeed the princess.
The video, which was filmed by a member of the public and quickly went viral, was expected to put an end to the speculation surrounding Kate Middleton's whereabouts and health following her abdominal surgery in January. However, Johnson's comments have reignited the debate and fueled further conspiracy theories about the princess's well-being and the palace's handling of the situation.
In her column, Johnson highlighted two main "red flags" that gave her pause. First, she argued that "no husband would allow a wife who is convalescing to carry anything, let alone a well brought-up Prince of the Blood, let alone a bulging plastic bag of groceries." Second, she claimed that the woman in the video "looked nothing like Kate," describing her as "younger, slimmer, faster - almost a walking advertisement for abdominal surgery."
The Kensington Palace has not reposed to Johnson's comments.
Johnson also consulted an art expert who reportedly expressed doubts about the video, suggesting that the individuals filmed were "lookalikes" and not very convincing ones at that. This skepticism comes despite confirmation from Nelson Silva, the man who filmed the video, and Heidi Agan, a professional Kate Middleton lookalike, that the couple in the footage were indeed the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The columnist's comments have added fuel to the ongoing speculation surrounding Kate Middleton's health and the palace's handling of the situation. In January, Kensington Palace announced that the princess would be taking a break from public duties until at least Easter due to an unspecified abdominal surgery. The palace's decision to withhold details about the princess's condition, citing her desire for privacy for herself and her three children, has led to widespread speculation and cruel online rumors.
Despite being spotted in public three times during her recovery, the conspiracy theories surrounding Kate Middleton's whereabouts and well-being have persisted. Johnson's skepticism about the farm shop video has only served to amplify these rumors, with many questioning why the royal couple, known for their closely guarded private lives, would allow such footage to be published without pushback, as reported by the Mirror.
In her column, Johnson argued that even if the individuals in the video were indeed the Prince and Princess of Wales, the decision to allow the footage to circulate seemed to contradict their previous strategy of maintaining a high level of privacy. She suggested that by not challenging the publication of the video, the couple had "blown up their previous strategy, turned anyone with an iPhone - ie everyone - into a potential paparazzo and opened up a whole new market in pictures of themselves."
Furthermore, Johnson noted that this apparent shift in strategy could make it more difficult for Prince William's press team to dispute the publication of paparazzi photos in the future, as the farm shop video could be seen as setting a precedent for the acceptance of such material.
As the speculation surrounding Kate Middleton's health and the authenticity of the farm shop video continues to swirl, Kensington Palace has been contacted for comment on the matter. The palace's response, or lack thereof, will likely play a significant role in shaping public perception of the situation and the ongoing debate about the royal family's privacy and media strategy.
