Fevered social media speculation about her health and whereabouts was heightened after Middleton posted an edited photo with her children on Mother’s Day earlier this month, leading news agencies including Reuters and the Associated Press to issue kill notifications.
Despite criticism of the palace’s communications around the furore, Starmer said he wouldn’t recommend Kensington Palace change course, saying it was “wrong” for politicians to advise the Royal Family.
“It’s a guttural thing … we should just butt out and leave her alone,” Starmer said. “It’s a human response as a dad and as a human being,” he added.
Kate was filmed leaving a farm shop near their home in Windsor last week with husband William, the Prince of Wales, who is next in line for to the throne. Onlookers said she looked “happy, relaxed and healthy.”
The Princess of Wales’ absence came as King Charles stepped back from “public-facing” duties while undergoing cancer treatment, although he has continued some behind the scenes royal duties.
Starmer expressed support for abolishing the monarchy before his political career, but told Channel 4 during the 2020 Labour leadership election he would now prefer to “downsize” the monarchy.
Former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair famously advised the late Queen Elizabeth II to speak out following the death of William’s mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997.
