At the beginning of 2024, many people were wondering where Kate Middleton had been for the past few months. While the Princess of Wales finally made a statement, people are still discussing some of the most ridiculous rumors circulating online. Kate still made occasional short appearances in public during her “missing” phase, but fans were quick to jump to conclusions.
Kate Middleton’s Disappearance
In January, Kensington Palace stated that Kate Middleton had undergone a “planned abdominal surgery.” They assured people the surgery was successful, and the princess needed some time to recover. Prince William also took a short break from his duties to spend time with his family.
The first time Kate was seen in public after the surgery was in March. She wore sunglasses and was sitting in the car with her mother, Carole Middleton. Her face was turned away from the camera.
The Photoshop Drama
On Mother’s Day, a photo of Kate Middleton and her three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—was shared on social media. This is when things got quite dramatic as followers noticed the photo was edited or even AI-generated. Kate indeed confirmed the rumors and said she occasionally experimented with editing.
Since people weren’t getting any new information about Kate’s disappearance, some started speculating that it was caused by Prince William’s alleged affair with Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley. These rumors started back in 2019.
Kate Clears the Air
Even though Kate was later photographed several times, some people were convinced that it wasn’t actually her. They thought that the royal family was using body doubles instead. In March, Kate and William were seen at the Windsor Farm Shop near their home, appearing happy and relaxed.
Eventually, when the rumors didn’t let up, Kate Middleton released a video sharing she had a brush with cancer and was undergoing preventative chemotherapy. The video was posted on March 22nd, two months after her abdominal surgery. We wish her a speedy recovery!