World reacts to Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis after conspiracy theories spread

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby

The senior bishop of the Church of England, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, took to Twitter to react to Middleton's announcement, saying he joins the country in praying for her recovery. 

Welby said Middleton's "bravery in sharing in this way and her continued commitment to supporting others speaks to her compassion and sense of service."  

"Please join with me in praying for The Royal Family as they deal with this private matter and I would urge people to respect their privacy at this time," he added. 

Earlier, Welby branded the conspiracy theories surrounding Middleton as "old-fashioned village gossip" and urged the public to allow those having health concerns "to live their lives in peace."

"We are obsessed with conspiracy, and we have little sense of the humanity of those caught in the glare of the news," he told Times Radio. "It doesn't matter who it is; people should be allowed to be ill, have an operation, whatever it is, and to live their lives in peace without everyone demanding that they prove something every other day."