[ad_1]
Kensington Palace has said Kate Middleton will return to public duties after Easter next month. (Archive)
Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, has been out of the public eye since December, leaving social media users speculating about the UK royal. According to Kensington Palace, the 42-year-old is recovering at home after “planned abdominal surgery” in January, but some users believe the royal is in an “induced coma.”
On Jan. 17, the Prince and Princess of Wales’ office said in a statement that the royal would spend 10 to 14 days in hospital after the surgical procedure and then recover at home.
“Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to hospital yesterday for planned abdominal surgery. The surgery was successful and she is expected to remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days, before returning home to continue her recovery,” it said. read in the statement. read.
However, in recent days, the royals’ prolonged absence from public life has sparked talk. While claims range from genuine concern to outlandish conspiracy theories, the most popular theory is that the royal suffered complications during her surgery and was placed in an induced coma.
Spanish television presenter and journalist Concha Calleja first claimed that Kate was intubated and placed in a coma after the procedure. “Her decision was to put her in an induced coma. They had to intubate her. It was about saving her life,” said Mrs. Calleja.
Although Calleja’s claims were dismissed as rumors by sources close to Buckingham Palace, they have done little to deter royal watchers and social media users from making more bizarre claims about the royals.
Kate’s husband Prince William, who recently pulled out of a scheduled appearance at Windsor Castle citing a “personal matter,” has been seen attending galas and events alone, a rare sight.
X, formerly Twitter, was inundated with memes about the royals’ “disappearance.”
Shortly after the royal family announced that Kate would undergo surgery, a new statement revealed that King Charles was undergoing a procedure to treat an enlarged prostate. The 75-year-old monarch, who ascended the throne last year, later revealed a cancer diagnosis.
While Kensington Palace has said Kate Middleton will return to public duties after Easter next month, local UK media claims it could take up to nine months for her to fully recover.
Buckingham Palace has not yet revealed the nature of the surgery.