Can we finally leave Kate Middleton alone?

This is taken from this evening’s edition of Today on spiked, our daily newsletter. To get more exclusive commentary like this, and a round-up of all our content each day, sign up here.

So now we know. The reason for Kate Middleton’s recent absence from public life is that she’s been battling with cancer. The Princess of Wales felt compelled to release a video this evening to try to quell the feverish speculation and swirling conspiracy theories that have gripped the internet and sections of the media these past few weeks – about her health, her marriage and indeed whether she was alive at all. Before we draw a line under this sorry affair, it’s worth thinking about why Middleton’s absence triggered such hysteria. An alarming number of people have come to equate a healthy need for privacy with a sinister desire for secrecy. They seem to feel that there must be some dark, ulterior motive whenever someone keeps their intimate affairs under wraps. So, while we all wish Kate well, let’s not ignore the social sickness that brought us to this point.

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