'Absolutely Absurd!': Cricket Star Defends Princess Kate Against 'Wild Conspiracies'
Ex-cricket player Kevin Pietersen is not here for the "absolutely absurd" conspiracy theories that have enveloped Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, in recent weeks. The future queen was seen walking with William in a video released to the media on Saturday, March 16, but even with the clip being authenticated, rumors are still swirling that it may not be HRH.
Pietersen wrote on X: "The conspiracy theories around Kate are absolutely absurd! We see W&K most days and in the last couple days too! It beggars belief that people would be so ridiculous and cruel in writing B----------- on this platform that are out and out lies! W&K are the most wonderful parents and as normal/humble as they come. Let K who is recovering from an operation recover. Leave her and her beautiful family alone!!!!"
The sports star even tagged Kensington Palace in the tweet, which is the official base and office of the Prince and Princess of Wales. His plea was met with resistance in the comments section, with one user stating: "Well, Sir. Maybe don’t release weird Ai manipulated and edited photos and people won’t ask questions."
Another pushed back by defending Pietersen's stance, and quipped: "Since when was Photoshop considered AI, and when did family photos have to meet a standard approved by trolls?"
As OK! previously reported royal expert Christopher Andersen compared Kate's public apology for the mishap to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.
"Altering a photo is not something that Diana would ever have considered doing because she knew full well that she would be crucified if she did," Andersen told an outlet. "Diana was a loner."
"Kate is the consummate team player," the biographer added. "The palace wouldn't have dared ask Diana to apologize for anything — they knew that the answer would be a resounding 'no.'"
Pietersen's demands for privacy for the future queen come shortly after she was spotted walking in Windsor, and "looking completely healthy and normal" with the Prince of Wales, on Saturday, March 16. The "photoshop disaster" preceded this spotting of HRH, and before that was her image next to her mother, Carole Middleton, in a car earlier this month.
Even though the Princess of Wales seems to be "doing well" as Kensington Palace previously reported, others feel that the media spectacle she has endured has likely taken a toll on her mental health.
"I'm just so sad and sort of frustrated about the whole thing because I feel so sorry for Catherine," royal expert Richard Eden dished. "Essentially, she's been under so much pressure from people saying 'We want a photo, we want to know how she is, tell us how she is'. And she finally issues this photograph, it's taken by Prince William — they make that clear when they issue the photograph."
Daily Express reported on Pietersen's remarks.