Katherine, 42, underwent a scheduled abdominal surgery last month and spent nearly two weeks in a London hospital before leaving to recuperate at her home in Windsor. From the outset, Kensington Palace said authorities would not provide live updates on her health unless there were serious reports, and she said she would not return to public life until after Easter. It's still been a month since then.
But that hasn't stopped people from ruminating about her health and whereabouts, sparking conspiracy theories and absurd memes on the internet. “Where is Kate Middleton?” Search results for her maiden name skyrocketed on Google. Some have playfully suggested that she's waiting for her bangs to grow out. Others reported that she was spotted at the Willy Wonka Experience in Glasgow, Scotland.
The princess' last public appearance was at a Christmas church service on December 25th.
Prince William's sudden cancellation of his attendance at the memorial service for Greece's late King Constantine sparked speculation on social media on Tuesday. He was scheduled to give a reading, but canceled at the last minute due to what Kensington Palace called a “personal matter.”
Prince William has since returned to work, although the palace did not provide further details. He briefly mentioned his wife during a public appearance Thursday during a visit to the Western Marble Arch Synagogue in central London. “Catherine and I are both very concerned about the rise of anti-Semitism,” William said during the discussion.
A spokesperson for the couple told The Washington Post on Thursday: “Kensington Palace revealed the Princess's recovery timeline in January, but we will only provide important updates.” That guidance is valid. ”
A spokesperson reiterated comments from earlier in the week, saying Kate was “in good spirits”.
A spokesperson said of some of the wildest speculation that the princess was in a coma, such rumors were “inaccurate and false”.
Health was central to Duchess Kate's image. The royal family's website describes her as “a strong believer that physical health not only complements mental health, but also has the power to engage, educate, and inspire people and change lives for the better.” She has been described as “an enthusiastic sportswoman.” Many of her public appearances are related to her health and sports. She is a patron of several sporting organizations, including England Rugby and All England Her Club. And she often watches Wimbledon from the Royal Box.
After Duchess Kate gave birth to her third child in 2018, she became a hot topic for leaving the hospital with camera-ready hair and makeup.
But she also opened up about her own health struggles, including experiencing extreme morning sickness called hyperemesis gravidarum with all three of her pregnancies. She said her contemporaries appreciated her acknowledging that her pregnancy wasn't always easy.
This time, the palace returned to print and distributed only a small amount of information. Royal officials have been even less forthcoming about Kate's health than Charles III, who is undergoing treatment for cancer.
When Kensington Palace announced the abdominal surgery last month, it said: “The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement has generated.” “She wants the public to understand her desire to maintain as much normalcy as possible for her children and to keep her personal medical information private. It is her wish to keep it.”
Cherry reported from Washington.
