The late Queen’s former communications adviser said current speculation about the Princess of Wales is unlikely to subside until she is back in the public eye.
Talk to Radio 4 Today ProgramSimon Lewis, who was appointed Queen Elizabeth’s first press secretary in 1998, said “visibility” was particularly important when dealing with members of the royal family.
Lewis, who also worked as Gordon Brown’s official spokesperson and now hosts the podcast ‘When It Hits the Fan’ with David Yelland, said his “hunch” was that as soon as Kate reappeared in public life, “a “A lot of it would disappear.” because what is curious about the monarchy is the importance of this visibility.
The former press secretary added that no communications executive could cope with the current amount of online speculation about the Princess of Wales, including the deluge of conspiracy theories on TikTok.
Simon Lewis, former press secretary to former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the late Queen’s first communications secretary, told Radio 4’s Today program that Kensington Palace would now seek a slow return to public service for the Princess of Wales.
“Privacy is sacrosanct,” Lewis said. While King Charles, as sovereign, has a responsibility to be more transparent on health matters, the Princess of Wales “has a different set of demands”.
He said explosive allegations that a member of staff tried to access the princess’s medical records at the London Clinic, where she underwent abdominal surgery in January, are exactly why Kensington Palace would have been so eager to protect the royal.
The princess was admitted to hospital for an abdominal operation on January 16.
Details of Kate’s condition have not been released, but Kensington Palace previously said it was not cancer-related and that the princess wanted her personal medical information to remain private.
Lewis said of the potential attempt to access the royal family members’ medical records: “We don’t know if it’s factually accurate, but for me the most important point is that it’s exactly why I would have thought that the princess and the people around her were so concerned about her private life.
“Going to the hospital is a very stressful experience at the best of times, but to think that it’s possible that people could access your records while you’re there.”
Simon Lewis, right, now presents a BBC podcast with fellow communications expert David Yelland
CEO Al Russell said: “Everyone at the London Clinic is keenly aware of our individual, professional, ethical and legal obligations when it comes to patient confidentiality. »
The London clinic, where the Princess of Wales was treated after undergoing abdominal surgery, first opened its doors in 1932. Above: Police outside the hospital as Kate received treatment care.
He added: “No wonder this debate about royals and public figures continues because that’s the key point – as far as I’m concerned there is a limit where privacy should absolutely be sacrosanct.”
The late monarch’s former adviser said Kensington Palace’s statement in January was “factually accurate – they said the princess would not be in the public eye until Easter”.
He stressed that while King Charles, as sovereign, had a responsibility to be more transparent on health matters, the Princess of Wales “has a different set of demands”.
Lewis added that he expected Kate Middleton to cautiously return to the public eye in the coming weeks.
He said: “Kensington Palace is now considering a way to slowly reintroduce the Princess into public life.
“There will be engagements, there will be opportunities for her to be seen.
“If she can slowly return to public life as seems to have been planned, I suspect a quite different change in public attitude. (There has been) enormous support for her among the British people.
This afternoon, bosses at the prestigious hospital revealed they had launched an urgent investigation into claims Kate’s medical records had been accessed.
The London Clinic’s chief executive, Al Russell, finally broke his silence this afternoon, saying in a statement: “Everyone at the London Clinic is acutely aware of our individual, professional, ethical and legal duties in relation to concerns patient confidentiality.”
“We are extremely proud of the exceptional care and discretion we aim to provide to all of our patients who trust us every day.
“We have systems in place to monitor the management of patient information and, in the event of a breach, all appropriate investigative, regulatory and disciplinary action will be taken.”
“There is no place in our hospital for those who intentionally abuse the trust of any of our patients or colleagues.”
The princess is said to be aware of the allegations, while a Kensington Palace spokesperson said: “This is a matter for the London Clinic.”