The recent viral video capturing Kate Middleton and Prince William shopping at a farm shop near their Windsor home has sparked a heated debate, with Rachel Johnson, sister of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, voicing her skepticism about its authenticity.
Despite confirmations from eyewitnesses, Johnson’s claims have reignited discussions surrounding the royals’ privacy and public image.
WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Princess Kate seen on video for the first time since surgery looking happy and relaxed on shopping trip with William. She's looking great! This should shut the trolls up! pic.twitter.com/3tBP2zQFCn
— The Sun (@TheSun) March 19, 2024
Rachel Johnson questions authenticity of Kate Middleton video
In her column for the Evening Standard, Rachel Johnson revealed her struggle to believe the video truly depicted the Princess of Wales carrying a shopping bag.
She cited several “red flags” that raised her suspicions, including the notion that no husband, let alone a prince, would allow his convalescing wife to carry groceries.
Johnson also questioned the woman’s appearance, describing her as younger, slimmer, and faster than Kate.
To validate her doubts, Johnson consulted an art expert who reportedly expressed similar reservations, suggesting that the person in the video was a “look-alike”.
However, Nelson Silva, the man who filmed the footage, has firmly asserted that the couple were indeed William and Kate, dismissing outlandish claims of body doubles.
Heidi Agan, a professional Kate lookalike, echoed Silva’s stance, denying her involvement in the video and expressing her conviction that it is the real Princess of Wales.
Johnson’s remarks have reignited discussions surrounding the royals’ privacy and public image.
She argued that if the video truly depicted William and Kate, it seemed contradictory to their previous strategy of closely guarding their private lives.
“If they wanted to prove she was alive and well and silence the bots and trolls, they could have released a reassuring picture of the beautiful mum in a bed-jacket, surrounded by her babes.”
Johnson suggested that by allowing the video’s publication, the couple had inadvertently turned anyone with a smartphone into a potential paparazzo, opening a new market for candid royal images.
Furthermore, Johnson raised concerns that William’s press team might struggle to dispute future publications of paparazzi photos depicting the royals’ private lives, as this video could set a precedent for accepting such material.
The controversy surrounding the farm shop video highlights the ongoing tension between the royals’ desire for privacy and the public’s insatiable curiosity to know all about Kate’s health and recovery.