Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you probably know that Kate Middleton is err…”missing.” Well, sort of. Kate’s abrupt retreat from the public eye following her last appearance on December 25 has ignited a frenzy of speculation and conspiracy theories. If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably dived way too deep into the Kate Middleton news rabbit hole with your social feeds flooded with the wildest conspiracy theories of the Princess’ whereabouts. From comical takes of her being on the reality show The Masked Singer, talks about cosmetic surgeries to more sinister theories citing divorce, domestic violence, or even death, social media has been churning the most outlandish theories about the Princess’ disappearance.
But is she really missing? Well, the official story is that the Princess of Wales is recovering from a planned abdominal surgery that she underwent in January. Understandable, isn’t it? Why, then, is the internet so concerned about her whereabouts? What exactly fueled this internet frenzy? For the unbeknownst, here’s a detailed timeline of everything that has unfolded so far that led the internet to speculate that something was amiss with the Princess.
@devotedly.yours Replying to @Keith Downey Junior ♬ original sound – Nuha
- December 25, 2023: Kate attends a Christmas church service with the royal family.
- January 16, 2024: Kate hospitalized for planned abdominal surgery.
- January 17, 2024: Kensington Palace announces Kate’s successful surgery.
- January 18, 2024: William photographed leaving the hospital after visiting Kate.
- January 20, 2024: Spanish journalist Concha Calleja reports that Kate has post-operative complications and is in a coma.
- January 29, 2024: Kate discharged from the hospital, continues recovery at home.
- February 7, 2024: William resumes public duties, addresses Kate’s surgery.
- February 18, 2024: William attends the BAFTA Awards solo without Kate.
- February 27, 2024: William misses his godfather’s memorial service due to a personal matter.
- February 29, 2024: Palace provides an update on Kate’s recovery, dismissing speculation.
- Early March 2024: Speculation mounts over Kate’s Absence.
- March 4, 2024: Kate spotted in a car with her mom in Windsor.
- March 6, 2024: Palace issues William’s response to online speculation about Kate.
- March 10, 2024: Kate shares Mother’s Day photo and message.
- March 10, 2024: Photo agencies retract Kate’s photo due to manipulation.
- March 11, 2024: Kate issues a public apology over edited photo.
- March 11, 2024: Kate Spotted Leaving Windsor Castle with William.
- March 14, 2024: News agency says Kensington Palace is no longer a trusted source.
- March 16, 2024: Kate spotted in public with William at a local farm shop.
@devotedly.yours Replying to @Sherean ♬ original sound – Nuha
On January 17, Kensington Palace disclosed that Kate had been hospitalized for a planned abdominal surgery. However, this didn’t sit well with royal watchers who had previously been aware of Kate and William‘s travel plans scheduled for around the same dates. Further, Prince William was only spotted visiting Kate once in the two weeks that she was hospitalized with no sightings of her children or parents.
It wasn’t, however, until Prince of Wales pulled out of his godfather’s memorial service at the last moment that the internet went into a frenzy with the #WhereIsKate gaining heavy traction on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok. With the palace offering minimal details, social media platforms became a breeding ground for rumors, each theory more sensational than the last.
Despite the palace’s attempts to reassure the public and protect Kate’s privacy, the release of an official portrait only added fuel to the fire. The photograph, intended to quell speculation, instead became the subject of controversy, with accusations of manipulation swirling around the image.
The ensuing retraction by major news agencies only served to deepen the mystery surrounding Kate’s whereabouts.
In a rare move, the Princess herself addressed the controversy, issuing a public apology for any confusion caused by the edited photo. However, the apology did little to stem the tide of speculation, as questions continued to arise about the true extent of Kate’s involvement in the editing process.
we are truly supposed to believe that kate middleton, a PRINCESS, has the time to be editing her own family photos? that she’s opening her macbook and playing around in photoshop and that kensington palace is just releasing that image?
— meg (@bymeg) March 11, 2024
A paparazzi photo of Kate exiting Windsor Castle with William was released by news agencies on the very same day. This, again, did little to help with the conspiracy theories as her face was turned away from the camera. In fact, internet sleuths claimed that the new photograph was doctored as well. Throughout it all, Kate has remained largely out of the public eye, with only sporadic sightings offering glimpses into her recovery. That was until yesterday when a paparazzi video of her visiting a local farm shop with William was released, providing hints of her well-being but offering few concrete answers.
While the woman in the blurry video does resemble Kate Middleton, it has failed to satisfy conspiracy theorists. And if it is indeed Kate, it raises further questions about Kensington Palace’s series of PR blunders surrounding the Princess.
As the world waits for Kate Middleton to return to royal duties, speculation persists about the true nature of her absence and the reasons behind the palace’s tight-lipped approach. With each passing day, the mystery deepens, leaving royal watchers eager for any sign of the beloved Princess’s return. Until then, the conspiracy theories will continue to brew.
ALSO READ: 6 SS24 RUNWAY MOMENTS THAT WILL UPGRADE YOUR EAR CUFF GAME NOW.
