THE The first posts appeared on social media a week ago, a few minutes after Kensington Palace announced Kate Middleton’s admission to a London clinic for abdominal surgery. And in recent days, when Sarah Ferguson revealed that she had once again been affected by a tumor, this time on her skin, the online abuse has begun for her too.
Kate Middleton and Sarah Ferguson vs troll
As the days passed, while the Princess of Wales, 42, and the Duchess of York, 64, were inundated with messages of good wishes, online and otherwise, the situation on the opposite front, that of troll, it was goinginstead, getting worse. Both the social profiles of the two Royals have a team of experts at Buckingham Palace, with the daily task of erasing as much as possible insults and vulgar comments, unlikely theories, misinformation and fake news. But at the palace they admit that they are unable to fully cope with the problem.
At court, security measures are increased for Kate and Fergie
The practical consequences are already being felt. In both cases, the threats are so serious to have convinced King Charles III’s collaborators to consider an urgent review of the security plans for the two Royals. In fact, at court they fear possible attacks for both Kate Middleton and Sarah Ferguson.
Windsor armored for Kate Middleton
The princess is still hospitalized at the London Clinic and will remain there for at least another week, protected by a team of bodyguards. Upon returning home, to the Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, not far from the king’s castle, the already rather tight security, due to recent intrusions, will be further increased, with frequent patrols by patrols of agents.
At court they are worried about Kate’s safety (KikaPress)
Who pays for the guards of the “non-Royal” Sarah Ferguson?
In the case of Sarah Ferguson the case is decidedly more complicated. The Duchess of York has lived for years at Royal Lodge, also in Windsor, with ex-husband Prince Andrew, but has no security guards like the senior Royals. Especially since her ex-husband, embroiled in the Epstein scandal and under pressure from British taxpayers who do not want to “support” him, has lost the court’s contribution to her personal security.
Sarah Ferguson with ex Andrea at Ascot horse races, June 2019 (Getty Images)
Sarah Ferguson is used to troll
However, at court they decided to protect Fergie, particularly vulnerable at this moment due to the diagnosis of a second tumor after the mastectomy she underwent in June 2023. The Duchess has repeatedly admitted that she got used to the hatred of those who find her unpleasant very quickly: already in the 1980s, when she appeared next to Princess Diana, was immediately overwhelmed by insults and negative messages. Only at the time they were sent to her by post.
George, Charlotte and Lois are also victims of cyberbullying
Kate and Sarah are certainly not the only Royals to have to deal with the problem of online abuse. For some time even little George, 10, Charlotte, 8, and Louis, 5, find themselves targets troll, especially the public dissemination of every official photo. So much so that his father William, very worried, intervened by establishing a task force at court to try to combat online dangers also for the new generations of Royals, currently too young to realize the problem.
Listen to the free podcast about the British royals
iO Donna © ALL RIGHTS RESERVED