Kate Middleton Sparks Twitter Debate, Accused Of Using Sarah Everard Vigil As Photo-Op

Kate Middleton received flak on social media over her decision to attend a vigil for the late Sarah Everard last month.

The internet uproar stemmed from a recent interview of Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick, who previously condemned the March 13 event, in which protesters clashed with cops over the handling of Everard’s case. However, the top British police official appeared to defend Middleton, who made an appearance at vigil, on a BBC Radio 4's "Today" program.

“She’s in the course of her duties. She was working,” Page Six quoted Dick as saying when grilled on her previous comments about the rally.

“It was clearly possible under the law for somebody who lived locally to walk, as many did, and lay flowers legally,” she said. “There are other reasons why people might be in the area, and they could have laid flowers calmly and peacefully, potentially legally. And you will have seen for six hours, we did not enforce any laws.”

Everard went missing in south London on March 3 while walking home from a friend's apartment, and her remains were found days later. A British police officer was later arrested and charged with the kidnapping and murder of the 33-year-old marketing executive.

The Met commissioner's comments caused outrage among a number of social media users, with some accusing the duchess of using the event as a photo-op for the royal family.

"My entire argument is that Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, went to a vigil for the sole purpose of forwarding an agenda to have the public view her as dutiful, caring, and unbothered by 'accusations' against BRF. She UNREDEEMINGLY used a dead woman for PR. Full stop," one person commented.

"Nothing the Duchess of Cambridge, or her husband do is with one iota of sincerity. All for publicity value. Like rest of Royal Family, their contribution during Pandemic has been negligible. No way you can mask that, and clearly not Kate herself, judged on vigil appearance!" another tweeted.

Another person posted side-by-side photos of Middleton in different settings, one of her wearing a face mask and the other without. "The duchess of Cambridge wearing a mask in her car. VS the duchess of Cambridge when she needs to be seen by the press at a murdered woman’s vigil. Disgraceful PR stunt," the user wrote.

Many also came to Middleton's defense, claiming the duchess went to Clapham Common, which Everard passed through before her disappearance, to lay flowers in her memory before the rally started.

"Rubbish. They've worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic. Kate wrote to Sarah Everard's family herself - she's a very sincere and caring person. Not a legal requirement to wear a mask outdoors - I never do," Carolyn Wright wrote.

"The Duchess of Cambridge didn’t attend the Vigil. The vigil took place after 6pm and wasn’t 'legal', the Duchess visited a site to lay flowers hours before it even started," another added.

"Why the hate for a woman who does nothing buy[sic] good for the country?" a third user commented.

Middleton's visit was not an official engagement, PA reported. It was not listed in the Court Circular, which is the daily list of royal engagements.