Catherine (42 years old) underwent abdominal surgery last month and remained in a London hospital for about two weeks before leaving to recover at her home in Windsor. Kensington Palace said from the beginning that officials would not make plays about her health unless there was something important to report, and that she would not resume public appearances until after Easter. That's still a month from now.
But that didn't stop people from pondering her health and whereabouts, as the internet erupted with conspiracy theories and ridiculous memes. “Where is Kate Middleton?” — with her maiden name — showed up as a featured search on Google. Some people playfully suggested she was waiting for her bangs to grow out. Others reported that it had been spotted at the Willy Wonka Experience in Glasgow, Scotland.
The princess was last seen in public on December 25, at a church mass on Christmas Day.
Speculation ran rampant on social media after William unexpectedly pulled out of attending a memorial service for the late Greek King Constantine on Tuesday. He was scheduled to give a reading but canceled at the last minute due to what Kensington Palace described as a “personal matter.”
The palace did not elaborate, and William has since returned to work. He made a glancing reference to his wife in a public appearance on Thursday during a visit to the Western Marble Arch Synagogue in central London. “Catherine and I are deeply concerned about the rise of anti-Semitism,” William said in one discussion.
A spokesperson for the couple told The Washington Post on Thursday, “Kensington Palace clarified in January the timelines for the princess's recovery and we will only provide important updates. This guidance stands.”
The spokesman reiterated comments he made earlier in the week, saying Catherine was “doing well.”
Responding to some of the wilder speculation that the princess was in a coma, the spokesman said such rumors were “inaccurate and false.”
Health was central to Catherine's image. On the royal family's website, she is described as a “passionate sportswoman” who “strongly believes that physical health not only complements mental health, but also has the power to engage, educate, inspire and change lives for the better.” Many of her public appearances are health or sports related. It is a patron of several sporting bodies, including English Rugby and the All England Club. Wimbledon is often watched from the Royal Box.
After Katherine gave birth to her third child in 2018, she made headlines for how she looked put together while leaving hospital, with her hair and makeup camera-ready.
But she also shared her health struggles, including suffering from a severe type of morning sickness called hyperemesis gravidarum during her three pregnancies. People said at the time that they were grateful for her acknowledgment that pregnancy isn't always easy.
This time, the palace went back to writing, distributing only small bits of information. Royal officials have been less forthcoming about Catherine's health than that of King Charles III, who is receiving treatment for cancer.
“The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate,” Kensington Palace said when announcing her abdominal surgery last month. “She hopes the public understands her desire to maintain as much normalcy for her children as possible; She wants her personal medical information to remain private.
Sheri reported from Washington.
