PEOPLE's Royals expert shares what he knows

As People magazine's chief foreign correspondent, I've covered the royal family for more than two decades. Throughout this time, she has witnessed many moments of joy, such as the weddings and births of children for Prince William and Kate Middleton, as well as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. There were also moments of sadness and change, especially after Queen Elizabeth's death. Additionally, the split between Prince Harry and his brother William has led to further turmoil and grief. Each of these historical moments brought its share of drama.

But today, the royal narrative seems unprecedented. I cannot remember a time when a series of unrelated events has disturbed more than one member of the royal family at a time, culminating in such a worrying period.

At the heart of this is the fact that we witnessed Princess Kate's first public misstep: her faking a family photo originally taken by her husband William to celebrate Mother's Day in the UK. This action unexpectedly put the previously invincible couple at the center of attention. A debate about trust in them and in the wider royal institution that released the image. It has given social media warriors license to speculate on a wide range of rumours.

A photo and video of a couple running errands at the Windsor Farm Shop over the weekend serves as a prime example. No, it wasn't fabricated or had a body double (the photo would certainly be better if it had been!). And yes, it was indeed Kate. Do employers mind being spotted looking happy while carrying out their tasks? I do not think so.

Some have wondered why not all their fellow shoppers have their phones out. Well, the store is located within the Crown Estate, which may deter most, if not all, professional photographers. After visiting there several times and speaking to the staff, as well as observing the loyal local customers who frequent the store, it's clear they didn't mean to put William, 41, and Kate, 42, in an uncomfortable position by catching them walking around. Their day. Simply put, they are aware of the rules and are exercising restraint, just as people do in other places such as Norfolk, where the royal family resides.

Just six days ago, Kate was photographed in the back of a car with William as they traveled to London. He was heading to the Commonwealth Day service while she was heading to a private appointment. Some suggest that this was a deliberate tip-off to the paparazzi (likely intended to dispel rumours) and that the photo was doctored. However, the snapper was unaware she was in the car until he reviewed the photo on his camera, making it unlikely he was asked to take the photo. And he didn't change it.

Part of the problem is that we've seen King Charles, 75, regularly direct audiences amid his cancer diagnosis. Audiences have seen him meet the Prime Minister and even be in and out of hospital, but Kate was not photographed for weeks during her recovery.

There is no doubt that the palace, as well as the prince and princess themselves, have been shaken by the most bizarre conspiracy theories. And he was relentless. As the controversy surrounding the doctored photo began to die down, rumors emerged that the BBC was waiting for a big announcement from the royal family. The allegations gained momentum over several days and reached a peak by Sunday. First, friends at the BBC knew nothing of any such development. Moreover, as any news professional knows, it would be highly unlikely that there would be a long lead time for a potentially major announcement. And it won't just be the case with the BBC.

As we explained in our last article, these are worrying times for those who view the royals as bastions of calm, security and reliability amid perceived political turmoil. (This year, nearly a third of the world, in 50 countries, will hold elections – even the British embassies in Moscow and Ukraine have found themselves having to refute a Russian report on Charles' death.) In fact, the royals see themselves as unified and apolitical. Characters placed above and separated from the ideological conflict. That has changed with the intensity of the social media retaliation over Kate, and the uncertainty surrounding Charles' health. These issues have become the main focus of these discussions, and things are spiraling out of control more quickly than they have ever seen before.

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When Prince Louis celebrates his sixth birthday on April 23, Kate and William will face a big decision. Make no mistake, like many outlets, we enjoyed and praised Kate for her tradition of taking glamorous photos of her kids. Next month, will they take the photo themselves or entrust it to a professional? Whatever they decide, it will undoubtedly be the most scrutinized royal photo to date – since the last one!