The Archbishop of Canterbury has warned society is becoming “obsessed with conspiracy” as speculation about The Princess of Wales continues.

Kate Middleton's withdrawal from public engagements following medical treatment earlier this year has fuelled wild conspiracy theories about her whereabouts and wellbeing on social media.

Although Most Rev Justin Welby was not asked to comment specifically on the royal’s case, he addressed more broadly whether he was worried that compassion in society is being replaced by “conspiracy” given the claims about her health.

He told Times Radio on Thursday  he believes we “have little sense of the humanity of those who are caught in the glare of the news”.

He said: “It does not matter who it is, people should be allowed to be ill, have an operation, whatever it is, and to live their lives in peace without everyone demanding that they prove something every other day.”

“It’s the web that has made these conspiracy theories for all kinds of people run riot and it’s extremely unhealthy. It’s just old-fashioned village gossip that can now go around the world in seconds. We have to turn away from that. Gossiping in that way is wrong.”

Meanwhile, Downing Street has called upon the British public to rally behind The Princess of Wales as she recuperates from surgery.

In January, Kensington Palace said the Princess would be “unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter”.