The man widely touted to become Britain’s next prime minister has urged people to “butt out” and leave Kate Middleton alone, amid wild speculation about her health.
Kensington Palace in January announced the Princess of Wales, 42, had spent two weeks in hospital after undergoing abdominal surgery.
Details about her recovery have been scarce, and hysteria escalated earlier this month — particularly on social media — when a picture of Catherine and her three children released to mark Mother’s Day in the UK turned out to be digitally altered.
This week, the exclusive London Clinic where she was treated was rocked by allegations a staff member had tried to access the princess’s personal medical records.
Police have been urged to investigate, and the UK’s data watchdog is also probing the claims.
UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who’s expected to win the general election later this year, told ITV the princess had “a difficult operation and she deserves privacy”.
Sir Keir said he felt politicians advising the royal family was “wrong”.
“But I do feel, it’s a guttural thing really, as a human being, that we should just butt out, and leave her alone,” he said.
“It’s not a political response, it’s a human response as a dad and as a human being.”
Watchdog has ‘breach notice’
The princess has had a break from royal duties during her convalescence, but is set to return after Easter.
A video of Catherine shopping at the weekend with her husband and heir to the British throne, William, Prince of Wales, was the first time she’d been seen walking in public since the surgery.
Large news wire agencies, including the Associated Press, Getty Images, Reuters, Agence-France Presse and the Press Association told clients they were removing the royals’ Mother’s Day photo because of concerns it had been digitally altered.
The princess later admitted to “experimenting with editing” in the snap.
While that incident made world headlines, the allegations someone tried to access her private medical records could carry criminal charges, if they are substantiated.
British health minister Maria Caulfield on Wednesday said she’d asked police to investigate the claims.
A spokesperson for the Information Commissioner’s Office — the UK’s independent body which upholds information rights — confirmed the organisation had “received a breach notice”.
In a statement, the hospital said its staff were aware of their “individual, professional, ethical and legal duties” and that it had systems to “monitor management of patient information”.
The London Clinic has a long history of treating members of the royal family, including King Charles III for an enlarged prostate and cancer this year.