Prince William’s decision to ditch royal event for ‘personal reasons’ was ‘very odd’

With the world’s eyes on his family, the future King made an extraordinary decision that is yet to be explained - and it’s at the heart of the crisis.

The “very odd” decision by Prince William to abruptly pull out of a high-profile appearance has been blamed for triggering the royal crisis - and to this day, is still shrouded in mystery.

The panic about Kate Middleton’s welfare ignited across social media last month after William was a no-show at a memorial for his godfather, King Constantine of Greece, citing only a “personal matter”.

Under normal circumstances, it would have raised eyebrows but perhaps not caused much of a stir - but its timing, off the back of news King Charles had cancer and the Princess of Wales was out of action for months after vague “abdominal surgery”, immediately sparked a social media firestorm.

The focus quickly honed in on Kate, with royal watchers all over the world speculating as to the severity of her condition.

Prince William’s decision to pull out of a royal event for “personal reasons” has been described as “very odd”. (Photo by Oli Scarff - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

“It was very odd considering the King of Spain was there, and [William] was due to deliver a reading... I thought that was strange, and I still don’t have the answer to what happened there,” royal author Robert Jobson said on Tuesday.

“When I asked [the Palace], they said he was entitled to his privacy.”

Jobson - whose latest book is entitled Catherine, the Princess of Wales: A Biography of the Future Queen - added that the situation was unlikely to have occurred under the late Queen Elizabeth II, who was known to run a tight ship at the Palace, and that it was a “poor showing” from the heir to the throne.

“It didn’t particularly alter the people’s perception [of him], but what it did do is begin this narrative that we’ve been in for the last two weeks or three weeks of all this conspiracy,” he pointed out, citing the unprecedented levels of frenzied speculation currently engulfing William and Kate.

The move sparked bizarre theories about Kate’s health online. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

It comes after a source close to the couple told the UK’s Sunday Times over the weekend that William had been left with “no choice but to pull out” of the memorial, and had found the public reaction “disappointing”.

“That blew the lid off everything with people’s impatience to know what was going on,” the source told the publication.

‘Breakdown’ in communication

The future King’s absence at the event may have kicked off the conspiracy theories, but according to Jobson, the real blame for the situation lies squarely with the Wales’ team, who were too slow to act amid the growing online furore.

“I think they had their heads buried in the sand, they missed the opportunity to deal with it, and then they bungled it when they decided to do something about it,” he said, referring to Kate’s now-infamous Photoshop scandal.

In an attempt to silence rumours about Kat’s health the palace released a Photoshopped image of the princess and three children in an spectacular own goal. Picture: Kensington Palace/Instagram

She was forced to release a personal statement apologising for any “confusion” last week after the world’s biggest photo agencies issued a “kill notice” on a Palace-issued Mother’s Day photo of her and her children, claiming it had been digitally “manipulated” by the “source”.

“I don’t think Kate should have taken responsibility [for the picture] the way she did, said Jobson.

“She’s recuperating at home from serious surgery and the communications team should have made sure that [picture] was checked before they issued it as an official photograph.”

Jobson also dismissed claims it was irrelevant as it was simply a “family photograph”, pointing out that it had come through official channels.

“It wasn’t - it was taken like a family photograph and issued as an official photograph and I think that’s a genuinely poor mistake.”

The whole debacle has left the monarchy facing a big “credibility issue”, Jobson claimed, explaining that the more modern approach of split royal households, rather than the previous singular chain of command, was worsening the issue.

“What’s happened here has been a breakdown in communications from Buckingham Palace,” he said.

“They need one person in charge and need to get a grip of it. This hasn’t been good, not their finest hour. There’s been a real disconnect that needs addressing.”

Kate has ‘got her routine back’ amid recovery

Details about Kate’s recovery have been extremely scarce, but Jobson shed new light on her current condition.

Describing her as a “very fit person” who “probably over-works out”, Jobson claimed he’d been told Kate has begun to get her “routine back in terms of fitness”.

“She’s building her strength... it is quite strenuous, having to go out on display, and she knows that all of us are going to be looking at her in depth when she goes back, and she wants to be her best,” he said.

Kate has been described as “steely” and “independent” by a royal biographer. Picture: Jane Barlow - WPA Pool/Getty Images

“She’s someone who’s very careful about making sure she gets things right, which is why I’m sure this whole incident has probably left her quite saddened and upset her quite a lot.”

While she’s known for her beaming smile, behind closed doors, Kate is very “steely”, according to the royal journalist.

“People like to give the impression she’s a shrinking violet, she’s even been described as a ‘Stepford Wife’ - it’s just nonsense,” he said.

“She’s a very intelligent, sharp, steely woman, she’s independent... I think that she’s underestimated - but equally, she’s quite steely and makes sure she does what she wants.”

As Jobson pointed out: “The mayhem we’ve seen while she’s not been in the public eye just shows you that she’s a major figure [in the royal family].”