Editorial 20 March 2024.
Almost all of Wednesday’s tabloids cover the latest from the royal family, with two major royal stories leading the way. Princess Kate’s medical records were reportedly breached when unauthorised hospital staff members tried to access her health records. Other royal front page leads report on the grainy video of William and Kate at a farm shop in Windsor, that sparked wild conspiracy theories online.
The coverage of royal news is mostly from traditionally right-leaning newspapers, painting Princess Kate in a sympathetic light amid heavy criticism and gossiping on social media.
There’s not much front-page coverage of the royal gossip in the left-leaning newspapers, which focuses mostly on political news.
Kate medical records breach
The Daily Mirror reports on the medical record breach saying “at least one” unauthorised member of staff tried to access Princess Kate’s medical notes. It adds that the breach has “sent shockwaves” through the London Clinic, in Marylebone.
An insider tells the paper it is a “major security breach and incredibly damaging for the hospital, given its unblemished reputation for treating members of the Royal Family”.
The private hospital did not comment on the claims but told the Mirror it “firmly” believes patients deserve privacy and confidentiality.
The Mail reports that the London Clinic has begun investigating the claims. The Times notes the private clinic has been a favourite of the royal family due to its discretion. The paper reminds its readers that Princess Kate chose not to share details about her medical condition other than to say it was abdominal surgery.
The Sun returns to its story of William and Kate who were pictured out and about at a farm shop in Windsor at the weekend. The man who filmed the royal couple speaks to the paper to dispel speculation that it wasn’t really Princess Kate. “I saw Kate with my own eyes,” he tells the tabloid.
The Daily Express says Prince William is focusing on “driving forwards” amid what the paper calls “idiotic” conspiracy theories around Princess Kate. The “world goes mad after woman goes shopping,” is how the Daily Star sums up the furore.
‘Labour’s vision for economy’
Away from the royal news, the rest of Wednesday’s front pages report on a variety of mostly domestic news.
The Financial Times and the i newspaper both lead on Labour’s “vision” for the economy, set out by shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves in a speech to business leaders yesterday. The FT says her pledge to borrow only for investment echoes the fiscal rules set out by Gordon Brown when he was chancellor during the last Labour government. But the paper says a top union boss – the leader of Unite, Sharon Graham – has denounced Ms Reeves’ economic plan as too timid and “for the birds”.
The Daily Telegraph carries a claim by the business secretary Kemi Badenoch that Britain’s diversity drive has been “counterproductive.” She says the findings of a report she commissioned show that while millions are being spent on equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives, many have little to no impact on increasing diversity or reducing prejudice.
The Guardian leads on a global wellbeing survey which suggests young people are less happy than older generations – and are suffering a midlife crisis because of social media. he US surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, tells the paper the findings are a “red flag that young people are really struggling in the US and now increasingly around the world”.
The Metro reports on Nicholas Hawkes – the first man in England to be jailed for cyber-flashing. The 39-year-old sent unsolicited photos of himself to a 15-year-old girl and a 60-year-old woman.
