The late Queen’s former communications secretary says ‘privacy must be sacred’ and predicts the Princess of Wales’ ‘gentle return’ to public life will quickly quell conspiracy theories

The late Queen’s former communications adviser has said the current speculation about the Princess of Wales is unlikely to subside until she is back in the public eye.

Speak with Radio 4’s Today programSimon Lewis, who became Queen Elizabeth’s first press secretary in 1998, said “visibility” is especially important when it comes to members of the royal family.

Lewis, who also worked as Gordon Brown’s official spokesman and now hosts the podcast ‘When it hits the fan’ with David Yelland, said his ‘hunch’ was that once Kate reappears in public life, ‘a lot of this will disappear’. away because the remarkable thing about the monarchy is the importance of this visibility.’

The former pressman added that no communications officer could deal with the current amount of online speculation about the Princess of Wales, including the flood of TikTok conspiracy theories.

‘Privacy is sacred’ Lewis said that while King Charles has a responsibility as sovereign to be more transparent about health issues, the Princess of Wales ‘has different demands’

He said the explosive claims that a staff member may have tried to access the princess’s medical records at the London Clinic, where she underwent abdominal surgery in January, is exactly why Kensington Palace was so keen to protect the royal family.

The princess was admitted to hospital on January 16 for abdominal surgery.

Details about Kate’s condition have not been released, but Kensington Palace previously said it was not cancer-related and that the princess wished her personal medical information to remain private.

Speaking about the possible attempt to access the royal family’s medical records, Lewis said: “We don’t know if it’s factually correct, but for me the more important point is that this is exactly why I thought the princess and the people around were like that around her. concerned about her privacy.

‘Going to hospital at the best of times is a very stressful experience, but to think there is the possibility of people actually gaining access to your data while you are 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 acutely aware of our individual, professional, ethical and legal duties in relation to patient confidentiality’

The London Clinic, where the Princess of Wales was treated after abdominal surgery, first opened in 1932. Above: Police outside the hospital as Kate was treated

He added: ‘No wonder this debate continues about members of the royal family and public figures because that is the key point – there is a line as far as I’m concerned where privacy should be absolutely 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 outlined that while King Charles had a responsibility as sovereign to be more transparent on health issues, the Princess of Wales ‘has different 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 to public life.

‘There will be appointments, there will be opportunities for her to be seen.

“If she can slowly return to public life in the way that seems planned, I suspect a very different change in public attitudes. [There has been] Huge support for her among the British people.’

This afternoon, bosses at the prestigious hospital announced they have launched an urgent investigation into claims that Kate’s medical records had been accessed.

London Clinic CEO 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 regarding patient confidentiality. ‘

‘We are extremely proud of the excellent care and discretion we want to provide to all our patients who put their trust in 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 steps will be taken.

“There is no place in our hospital for those who deliberately betray the trust of our patients or colleagues.”

The princess is said to be aware of the allegations, with a Kensington Palace spokesperson saying: ‘This is a matter for the London Clinic.’