Fake rumours about Kate Middleton circulating on the internet are “cruel” and upsetting for her, a former BBC royal correspondent has said. In January, Britain’s Princess of Wales spent two weeks in hospital after undergoing abdominal surgery. Kensington Palace said the procedure had gone well and Kate would spend a few months recovering at home before resuming public duties again. Since then, the internet has been awash with rumours about her; questioning whether she is alive or whether she is even ill at all. Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said the speculation was nonsense. “What do you want the woman to do? Do you want her to rip off her clothes and show us her scars?” Ms Bond said. “I think it became cruel and I think she became very upset by it but she’s a cheerful woman, she’s a confident woman and hopefully this hasn’t knocked her back too far - either physically or mentally.” Over the weekend, The Sun published video footage of Kate and her husband out and about in their local town of Windsor. Ms Bond said she thought the video was “reassuring” but even then, some people refused to believe it was her. “It was definitely Catherine,” Ms Bond said. “Despite the internet trolls still picking it apart saying, ‘This is not Catherine, it is an imposter, it is a double.’ “This was Catherine and William going to the shop very near their home at the weekend, doing a little shopping. “I think it probably is designed to show she is around and is improving and all these ridiculous theories are just that - quite absurd.” Given the couple were not at an official function, Ms Bond said news organisations have been thinking “quite hard” about whether to publish it. In the end, it was too good a scoop for The Sun to resist. “Most people decided they would run it because the public needed reassurance that she is on the mend,” she said. “Just as the palace have always said it’s going to be a long-time to get over the operation but, clearly, she’s making good progress.” ___________________________________________________________________________ 📱 Have you downloaded the Newstalk app? - Find the app in the Google Play store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thisisaim.newstalk&hl=en_IE&gl=US - Find the app via Apple: https://apps.apple.com/ie/app/newstalk-106-108-fm/id372643826 #️⃣ SUBSCRIBE to the Newstalk social channels: - YOUTUBE | null - TWITTER | twitter.com/newstalkfm - INSTAGRAM | instagram.com/newstalkfm/ - FACEBOOK | facebook.com/newstalkfm - WEBSITE | https://www.newstalk.com/ 🎧 PODCAST - listen at your leisure: newstalk.com/podcasts - iTunes: search for Newstalk in your app! - Spotify: search for Newstalk for our latest pods and news - Or wherever you get your podcasts! 📱GET IN TOUCH WITH NEWSTALK - WhatsApp: get in touch on 0871400106