Kate Middleton: Doubt cast on authenticity of Windsor video

New questions have arisen over a video of Prince William and wife Princess Catherine out shopping in Windsor.

Days after TMZ published footage of Princess Catherine at a farm shop in Windsor, the entertainment news site has now questioned if the footage is the real deal.

The Princess of Wales’ sighting was first reported over the weekend by The Sun in the UK, citing an eyewitness, but did not include any visual evidence.

However on Monday, The Sun reported it had found a video of her with her husband Prince William, which was also published by TMZ.

TMZ hosts Harvey Levin and Charles Latibeaudiere have since analysed the footage, and according to the duo, several inconsistencies need addressing.

“So yesterday we posted a video on our website that went around the world,” Levin said on their program TMZ Live.

#KateMiddleton seemed to be in good spirits while out and about with #PrinceWilliam Saturday. https://t.co/kLUsfvt3b2 (🎥: TMZ/The Sun) pic.twitter.com/EqbtVojBcw

— TMZ (@TMZ) March 18, 2024

“This is, by appearance at least, Kate Middleton with her husband William, this is about a mile from their home where they went grocery shopping and you see Kate looking relaxed smiling carrying a bag, which is interesting because she needed to have abdominal surgery.”

Another factor the pair pointed out was the noticeable absence of security during the future King and Queen of England’s outing, as well as the fact only grainy footage of the couple was the only one to emerge.

“The thing is there are now people picking this [video] apart and they’re saying it’s fake. They don’t believe it, they don’t believe it’s Kate,” Levin said.

Latibeaudiere said the points critics have brought up on social media regarding “Fake Middleton” are valid.

“They have looked at every detail of this woman head to toe literally, and it’s not matching up for them,” he said.

The hosts said that they obtained the video and released it after it “aligned” with reports from The Sun that William and Kate had been seen for the first time since she underwent surgery in January.

TMZ released new footage of Kate Middleton yesterday, but no one believes it's really her! @adamj_griff came on TMZ Live today to help dissect the video and find out if it's the REAL Kate. pic.twitter.com/HZAPq3IUzD

— TMZ Live (@TMZLive) March 19, 2024

But after further inspection, both Levin and Latibeaudiere are questioning the authenticity of the woman in the video and even called in professional photographer Adam Griffin to help them dissect the footage.

“It seems at first blush, it’s likely Kate Middleton,” Griffin said on the program.

“The internet loves a conspiracy theory, myself included, and nine times out of 10 the likely scenario is the realistic one that it is Kate.”

However, the men went on to discuss the two main factors that could discredit the video, including Catherine’s facial features and her height in relation to William – she is 175cm, while he is 190cm.

“That a pretty big height difference to all of a sudden in that video be that close in height,” Griffin said. “I think we can ascribe it to the fact that she is directly behind William, so she’s a little bit further away from the camera.

“It could be a slight angle difference of somebody standing below a sidewalk so that it’s maybe not entirely convincing to some people, but it definitely raises some suspicion.”

Just days after TMZ published footage of Princess Catherine at a farm shop in Windsor, the entertainment news site has now questioned if the footage is the real deal.

As for Catherine’s chin looking fuller in the video than in photographs of her from previous outings, Griffin said this could be because of the weight she likely lost after surgery.

“I can imagine from the post-ops I have had from any number of dietary restrictions, that I’m sure we’ve all been on in different points in our lives, we tend to lose weight in different parts of our body first,” Griffin said.

“And considering it was abdominal surgery, I would assume her medical team put her on a pretty strict diet.”

The TMZ hosts also questioned if the man in the video is even William.

“That looks like William to me. I got to imagine they’re not going through the rigmarole of bringing out two body doubles,” Griffin said.

“He’s pulling the classic paparazzi move, I think. He knew that there might be cameras going out and about – it’s their first public visit together. I can imagine they have security roaming around somewhere.”

The dad who filmed the footage has also come out, slamming the “delusional” internet trolls who have cast doubt on the clip.

“What more do you need to lay off her? I thought after this was released they’d go quiet. But these people are so invested in the drama now,” Nelson Silva, 40, told The Sun, one day after the now-viral footage was published.

MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IN PRINCESS KATE DATA BREACH

Three London Clinic staff are under investigation by management over claims they tried to access the Princess of Wales’s private medical records.

The three all work at the highly respected private hospital where Princess Catherine had abdominal surgery in January, and where King Charles was treated for an enlarged prostate before being diagnosed with cancer.

The status of the staff is not known and it is not clear if the clinic took the decision to suspend them for trying to access Catherine’s notes.

Princess Catherine continues to recover from abdominal surgery. Picture: Getty Images

The clinic, which treats politicians, celebrities and royals, was not answering the phone on Wednesday local time and referred all calls on the matter to Buckingham Palace.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection watchdog, says it is investigating the incident after the clinic itself said it was taking “all appropriate steps” to investigate the alleged breach.

A spokesperson for the clinic told ITV News it would not elaborate on the claims except to say “all our patients, no matter what their status, deserve total privacy and confidentiality regarding their personal medical information.”

Staff at the London Clinic are accused of trying to access the Princess of Wales’s private medical records. Picture: Getty Images

A police officer stands guard outside the London Clinic during Princess Catherine’s lengthy stay at the private hospital. Picture: Getty Images

CLINIC ‘DELAYED REPORTING KATE BREACH’

In another shock development, the ICO is investigating whether the London Clinic delayed informing it about claims staff tried to access Princess Catherine’s confidential medical records, The Guardian has reported.

According to official guidelines from the ICO, personal data breaches must be reported within 72 hours from when they are discovered if an individual’s rights and freedoms are at risk.

Princess Catherine, with husband Prince William, is said to have been made aware of the security breach. Picture: Getty Images

The clinic revelation has evoked memories of the tragic case of a nurse at the private King Edward VII hospital, where Catherine was treated for acute morning sickness in 2012.

Nurse Jacintha Saldanha, 46, took her own life three days after being duped by Australian radio presenters Michael Christian and Mel Greig in a hoax call in which they pretended to be Queen Elizabeth.

KATE RECORDS: POLICE ASKED TO INVESTIGATE

British police have been “asked to look” into the allegations that London Clinic staff members attempted to access Princess Catherine’s private medical records.

Speaking on LBC radio, UK health minister Maria Caulfield confirmed that police had now been asked to investigate, adding: “Whether they take action is a matter for them.”

Ms Caulfield also said that there could be “hefty implications” for anyone found to have accessed the documents without permission.

It has been alleged three staff members at the exclusive London Clinic attempted to access Princess Catherine’s medical records. Picture: Getty Images

It is a criminal offence for any staff who work for Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) or in a private healthcare setting to access the medical records of a patient without the consent of the organisation’s data controller.

“I say this as someone who’s still on the nursing register, that the rules are very, very clear for all patients. That unless you’re looking after that patient, or unless they’ve given you their consent, you should not be looking at patients’ notes,” she told the radio station.

Ms Caulfield said the allegations were “extremely serious”.

“You can’t just randomly look at any patient’s notes. It’s taken extremely seriously, both by the information commissioner but also your regulator,” she said.

“If as a nurse, you are accessing notes that you haven’t got permission to access, they would take enforcement action against that.

“So it’s extremely serious. And I want to reassure patients that their notes have those strict rules apply to them as they do for the Princess of Wales.”

Princess Catherine is said to have been made aware of the alleged security breach.

Kensington Palace said the incident was “a matter for the London Clinic”.

The Princess of Wales has not officially been pictured in public since Christmas Day last year leading to rampant speculation around the state of her health. Picture: Getty Images

CLINIC BOSS SPEAKS OUT

It comes as the chief executive of the London Clinic broke his silence over the claims.

The London Clinic’s chief executive, Al Russell, said in a statement “all appropriate investigatory, regulatory and disciplinary steps will be taken” when looking at alleged data breaches.

“Everyone at the London Clinic is acutely aware of our individual, professional, ethical and legal duties with regards to patient confidentiality,” he said.

Prince William has not commented publicly on the state of his wife’s health. Picture: Getty Images

“We take enormous pride in the outstanding care and discretion we aim to deliver for all our patients that put their trust in us every day. There is no place at our hospital for those who intentionally breach the trust of any of our patients or colleagues.”

The allegations have rocked the hospital in London’s exclusive Marylebone neighbourhood, which has a reputation for discretion and often treats members of the royal family, British prime ministers and celebrities.

The Princess of Wales has not officially been pictured in public since Christmas Day last year leading to rampant speculation around the state of her health.

Earlier this week, video emerged of Princess Catherine smiling while shopping with Prince William at a Windsor market.

Royal aides are said to be planning for the Princess to make a soft return to the public over the Easter weekend, according to the Independent.

Palace officials have reportedly spoken to Princess Catherine about walking to Easter Sunday mass at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, with the Royal Family.

Downing Street said people should “get behind the Princess of Wales”.

Asked about the alleged breaches at the London Clinic following the Princess’ treatment, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman said: “Clearly there are strict rules on patient data that must be followed.”

“I think we all want to get behind the Princess of Wales, and indeed the Prince of Wales, and we obviously wish her the speediest of recoveries.”

Originally published as Kate Middleton: Doubt cast on authenticity of Windsor video