<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">What's happening</h2>

Catherine, Princess of WalesA title traditionally held by the wife of the next heir to Britain's throne. , seems pale but calm as she looks into the camera. "I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally," she says, "for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have been recovering from surgery. It has been an incredibly tough couple of months...

"In January, I underwent major abdominalRelating to the abdomen, the part of the body known commonly as the belly or the tummy. surgery in London. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancerA disease in which some of the body's cells grow in an uncontrollable way. There are lots of different types of cancer. had been present."

No other member of the Royal Family has spoken so openly about their health. The fact that Kate felt she had to is a measure of how harmful the rumoursA story that is being told, but nobody knows if it is really true or not. Gossip. about her were.

Some focused on the fact that a picture of her with her children had been photoshoppedWhen software is used to change or alter an image. . Others suggested that she was having cosmetic surgerySurgery that is done to change someone's looks, rather than for health reasons. . Meanwhile, in real life, she was undergoing chemotherapyA treatment for cancer that uses powerful drugs to kill cells..

The Archbishop of CanterburyAlthough the head of the Church of England is the Queen, the Archbishop is the most senior bishop and symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican communion. spoke out against the rumours: "It's extremely unhealthy. It's just old-fashioned village gossip that can now go round the world in seconds. We have to turn away from that."

The historian Yuval Noah Harari argues that gossip has been needed for human survival. It was a way for early humans to make friends and to learn who they could trust.

Are we all guilty?

Yes! Newspapers and social media platforms rely on our interest in gossip.

No! It is okay take an interest in a public figure. It only becomes gossip when small-minded people with uninteresting lives feel that they have to pick apart the lives of others.

<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">Find out more </h2>

Princess of Wales - A title traditionally held by the wife of the next heir to Britain's throne.

abdominal - Relating to the abdomen, the part of the body known commonly as the belly or the tummy.

Cancer - A disease in which some of the body's cells grow in an uncontrollable way. There are lots of different types of cancer.

Rumours - A story that is being told, but nobody knows if it is really true or not. Gossip.

Photoshopped - When software is used to change or alter an image.

Cosmetic surgery - Surgery that is done to change someone's looks, rather than for health reasons.

chemotherapy - A treatment for cancer that uses powerful drugs to kill cells.

Archbishop of Canterbury - Although the head of the Church of England is the Queen, the Archbishop is the most senior bishop and symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican communion.