‘Katespiracy’ explodes after UK princess’ photo blooperBy Anuj Chopra / AFP, WASHINGTONThe picture was meant to douse speculation about the whereabouts and health of the UK’s Catherine, Princess of Wales, but instead her manipulated image unleashed a torrent of Internet-breaking rumors and conspiracy theories. Social media exploded with memes exploring what the palace was hiding. “Every family hides a secret,” read the text inscribed in one photo swirling on social media, designed as a promo for a fictitious Netflix show titled: “Royal Conspiracy. The disappearance of Kate Middleton.”Kensington Palace declined to release an unedited copy of the photograph, prompting social media detectives to go down new rabbit holes. The climate of online distrust has spurred new calls for transparency, even among British royal family members with a long tradition of secrecy.
