ROBERT JOBSON: William’s one misstep ignited the wild conspiracy theories. But thankfully he and Kate have heeded The Queen’s wisdom at last

Finally some daylight shines in on the magic.

A smiling Princess of Wales is spotted – and filmed – looking happy and healthy as she shops with William near their Windsor home.

So much for the crazy doubters.

For once, a couple who like to guard their privacy didn’t seem to mind being photographed – by a member of the public on their iPhone who spotted them in the bread aisle of the Windsor Farm Shop.

Will this demonstrably authentic observation silence the crazy conspiracy theorists? Or the weird wearers of “Free Kate” T-shirts (a strange nod to the strict American legal regime that once restricted pop star Britney Spears)?

Not quite. This is the internet after all.

But the new video footage will go a long way toward getting the national conversation back on track to common sense.

I feel sorry for the Welsh, who have steadfastly refused to provide updates on Kate’s health.

Their press office at Kensington Palace announced that she has undergone abdominal surgery and is unlikely to return to royal service until after Easter. Nothing anymore.

Some things are private, you would think. Why feed the beast?

Moreover, wasn’t it the great constitutional writer Walter Bagehot who warned against protecting the ‘magic’ of kingship from the intrusion of daylight?

Kensington Palace has been understandably reluctant, but it has also been unpleasant.

The botched handling of Welsh people’s privacy has helped create a media storm with its own global momentum.

That’s why I’m glad that, a little late in the day, William and Kate seem to have heeded the wise words of the late Queen Elizabeth: that she has to be seen to be believed.

Kate had not been seen at church in Sandringham since Christmas Day.

The context is of course important here.

Driven by the loss of his mother, Diana, William’s dance with the media has been long and fraught. Who can blame him for establishing fierce surveillance over his young family and its privacy?

In contrast, the king has continued with his official duties despite his cancer treatment, releasing photos and video footage along the way.

Still, most people have understood Wales’ reasons for staying quiet.

What they did not It was William’s sudden and unexpected decision to be absent from the memorial service for King Constantine II at St. George’s Chapel last month.

The prince withdrew at extremely short notice, even though Constantine had been his godfather and William was due to give a lecture.

The late Queen Elizabeth would never have given up an engagement so abruptly. It’s really not the kind of behavior we expect from the royal family.

Elizabeth’s cousin, Prince Michael of Kent, showed an admirable sense of duty by attending the same memorial service, despite the death of his son-in-law Thomas Kingston just a few days earlier.

Why was William missing?

All we got was silence. And this, I believe, is what first opened the floodgates of suspicion about Kate – and caused a series of wicked lies to circulate online.

The Waleses will survive all this. Despite the occasional stumbles, they have proven to be as resilient as their popularity.

William and Kate are now the stars of the royal family and will remain so in the future.

However, after a series of own goals, there is less reason for confidence elsewhere. This was not the British monarchy’s finest hour.

Take the Mother’s Day portrait.

Why haven’t the Waleses made good use of Andrew Parsons, the seasoned professional photographer who already works with them?

Charged with recording the lives of William and Kate, Parsons’ mission is to create an archive not only for the present, but also for history.

It’s unbelievable that they should have opted for a photoshopped DIY photo on Mother’s Day.

Once again the contrast with King Charles is clear.

Just like his late mother, the king has a keen eye for the smallest details. He insists on perfection when it comes to the historical record.

Dissatisfied with the recently created series of portraits in various military regalia, he insisted that they be completely re-photographed by a renowned studio photographer.

It cost a pretty penny. But for the king the message was clear: haste cannot be tolerated.

Every image, every piece of information that is released, must be examined in detail beforehand.

The Mother’s Day portrait, made by William, crossed the line. Nevertheless, it was released as an official photo for distribution by Kensington Palace officials.

Then someone – and not a recovering Kate – should have taken responsibility.

Kensington Palace should have immediately apologized and released the original, instead of throwing Kate under the bus.

In recent days I have heard Buckingham Palace officials say this is a “Kensington Palace problem.”

Wrong!

When the world starts comparing the British monarchy to the North Korean news channel, that’s a royal problem.

And something that the entire institution must do something about.

Perhaps it’s time to go back to the future in the way royal communications are handled.

When I started covering this beat in the early 1990s, there was only one Buckingham Palace press secretary reporting directly to the Monarch.

There was no rival operation for the Prince of Wales.

The Royal Press Secretary was in charge. Nothing went out unless it was cleared through him.

He had a deputy and a number of assistant press secretaries assigned to various members of the royal family.

This was one team with one unified approach – something we have sorely missed in recent weeks.

No one pretends it’s easy. It requires a careful dance in which privacy, visibility and authenticity are central.

But it must be led decisively with tact, experience and skill.

For example, I was very happy to see the princess walking both happy and healthy, walking briskly and carrying her own bags. I believe the furore is now coming to an end.

But there are lessons in all of this.

In an age where technology blurs the lines of truth, the royal brand must remain untarnished. It has to be real.

In authenticity lies the confidence of the kingdom; a bond once broken becomes a gap that is difficult to bridge.