Princess Kate was ‘coerced’ into an early announcement of her cancer diagnosis, author Alexander Larman has claimed.

He joined Michael Portillo on GB News to discuss the announcement that left the world reeling.

But he had criticism for a ‘demanding’ public, who he claims forced the future Queen’s hand by building up speculation on her whereabouts and wellbeing over months.

“I speak for everybody when I say it was a visceral shock to hear what Kate’s going through”, he said.

Alexander Larman says there is a lack of 'compassion' on show

“I speak for everybody when I say it was a visceral shock to hear what Kate’s going through”, he said.

“I think we have to remember that she was more or less coerced into having to make this statement, because the rumours about her condition on social media were so baroque and so absurd that she eventually was forced into a situation where, presumably undergoing treatment, presumably not in the best of health conditions, she actually had to address the nation to put the rumours to bed.

“That’s an extraordinary thing to do. Of course, the worst part is it hasn’t even worked.

“There are lots of these social media accounts which are just saying, ‘it’s just been made up, she’s doing it for attention’.

“Do you have so little compassion and so little understand of what she must be going through?”

Well wishes have been flooding in since the Princess’s announcement with the Prime Minister, leader of the opposition and Harry and Meghan among the figures to have spoken out.

William and KateKensington Palace

Alexander Larman says Kate was coerced into announcing her cancer diagnosis

Wild theories have built up over recent months regarding Kate’s wellbeing after she took a step back from royal duties in January after planned abdominal surgery.

She was not expected to return to work until after Easter, but the latest health bombshell has thrown her comeback further into question.

Speaking in the video message recorded on Wednesday in Windsor, the princess said: “In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous.

“The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present.

“My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.

“This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. As you can imagine, this has taken time.”

The message was reportedly released to coincide with the commencement of William and Kate’s three children’s Easter holidays.

It is understood they view the break as a way to shield them from the coverage of their mother’s health.