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Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, has become the latest subject of online conspiracy theories as people on social media continue to speculate about why they believe she has been away from the public eye.
Kensington Palace has said Kate is recovering from planned abdominal surgery. On January 17 she said the 42-year-old would step away from her public duties until after Easter following the procedure.
But after Prince William, heir to the British throne, pulled out of a memorial service for his godfather due to a “personal matter” this week, Kate’s name began trending on X, where an avalanche of memes, jokes and unfounded theories populated the platform. . Hundreds of people have also commented in a Reddit thread Titled: What’s happening with Kate Middleton?
Elizabeth Holmes, author and royal expert, said the “absurdity” of the theorizing on social media was accentuated by William’s absence at the event.
“There are certainly people who are genuinely concerned about Kate, but the social media storm was unfair,” said Holmes, who wrote “HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style.” “This woman has just undergone major surgery and is recovering within the 10-week recovery time frame that the palace originally provided.”
The palace said Tuesday that the Princess of Wales continues to do well, but declined to give further details. That only seemed to fuel more speculation Wednesday.
Many images began to circulate of when Kate He was reportedly last photographed by British tabloids on Christmas Day..
There were also those who quickly began posting memes.
Some joked that Kate might be recovering from a cosmetic procedure known as BBLwhere fat is transferred from the stomach and thighs to the buttocks.
Other people suggested that Kate could secretly star in “The Masked Singer.” a FOX reality show featuring mysterious celebrities singing in costumes and masks, or “Celebrity Big Brother.”
Many also leaned on the Internet frenzy surrounding the chaotic Willy Wonka-inspired experience in Glasgow, Scotland, at Photoshopped images of Kate. there.
There have been no reports to suggest that any of these conspiracies are even remotely true.
The boundaries between the royals’ lives as taxpayer-funded public figures and those with private lives have been recurring topics of debate.
William’s mother, Princess Diana, died in a car accident in 1997 while trying to evade paparazzi in Paris. His younger brother, Harry, and his wife, Meghan, stepped back from official royal duties in 2020 after the couple came under intense media scrutiny.
More recently, the princes’ father, King Charles III, made headlines for his cancer diagnosis. Charles has canceled public engagements while he receives treatment.
Kate and Charles’ recent health issues have continued to spark conversations about transparency around the royal family’s medical information.
“The royal family considers health problems to be a private matter,” Holmes said. “If information is shared, it is usually intentionally vague or shared after the fact. I think that vagueness hurt them here.”
A spokesperson for Kate reiterated Thursday that “she is fine.”
“Kensington Palace made the Princess’ recovery timelines clear in January and we would only provide meaningful updates. “That guideline remains.”