Friends of Kate have rallied to her defense during her absence from public life, expressing outrage that she is being hounded by the media for the mistakes of others. They believe that Prince William and Kate will take steps to "clear out" the staff at Kensington Palace who were responsible for these errors later this year, as a result of a breakdown in royal communications triggered by the publication of the photo.
While Kate acknowledged her role in editing the photo through a social media message, her friend argued that it was unfair for her team to place the blame solely on her. The friend also pointed out that Kate's office's failure to properly vet the photo was partially responsible for reigniting speculation about the state of her marriage to William.
On a recent episode of the Late Show, Stephen Colbert jokingly alluded to the alleged affair between William and his neighbor Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley. However, insiders have emphasized the immense pressure Kate has faced over the years, suggesting that her recent illness and need for a break are not surprising given the circumstances.
Earlier this week, a source who is a friend of both Kate and William, and part of their wider circle, expressed confusion over why Kate chose to release a picture showing her without a wedding band, as it seemed "guaranteed to get people asking questions about the state of the marriage."
Nevertheless, insiders have revealed that Princess Kate has taken a surprising step to preserve her family and secure the future of her children with William by making changes within her personal staff. The last public sighting of Kate was on Christmas Day last year, and the palace has stated that she is expected to resume her public duties after Easter, although an exact date has not been specified.
