Kate Middleton coma conspiracy theory ‘ludicrous,’ Palace says

Kate Middleton’s health has been the subject of a “ludicrous” conspiracy theory that started life with a Spanish journalist Concha Calleja and spread internationally on social media.

The Princess of Wales had abdominal surgery on January 16 and spent two weeks in hospital after which Kensington Palace indicated she would not be performing any royal duties before Easter.

There were no pictures of her leaving hospital and no privately taken images released either, creating a vacuum in which conspiracy theories have taken hold.

The palace told Newsweek particular allegations that Kate was in a medically induced coma, made by a journalist in Spain, were “ludicrous.”

A Kensington Palace statement, which was released on January 29, also directly contradicted the claim when it said the princess “is making good progress.”

That was re-enforced Tuesday when the palace said her recovery continues to progress as Prince William announced he was pulling out of a key appearance because of an unspecified “personal matter.”

However, aides have still not revealed Kate’s diagnosis and with no photographs of the princess the rumor mill has gone into overdrive.

What Concha Calleja Said About Kate Middleton

Spanish journalist Calleja told her TV show Fiesta that she had “spoken to an aide from the Royal Household in a completely off-the-record manner” and Kate’s life “was in great danger.”

“The doctors had to take drastic decisions at that moment because of the complications that arose,” she added, according to U.K. broadsheet The Times.

“The decision was to put her in an induced coma. They had to intubate her,” Calleja said. “There were serious complications that they didn’t expect because the operation went well, but the postoperative period didn’t go so well.”

Kate’s team told Newsweek the claim was “ludicrous and not fact-checked by Kensington Palace.”

Beyond that, the palace told The Times in early February: “It’s total nonsense. No attempt was made by that journalist to fact-check anything that she said with anyone in the household. It’s fundamentally, totally made-up, and I’ll use polite English here: it’s absolutely not the case.”

Newsweek has contacted Calleja for comment on Instagram.

Wider Social Media Speculation

The paucity of information surrounding William’s decision to pull out of giving a reading at a Service of Thanksgiving for King Constantine of Greece risks fueling further speculation, of which there is plenty on social media.

A recent post on X, formerly Twitter, went viral after it was viewed 6.3 million times and liked 57,000 times. It reads: “You’re telling me that Kate Middleton—the same woman who posed outside the hospital like a freaking supermodel mere hours after giving birth—suddenly requires months of recovery before showing her face?

“And the British press now magically respects privacy? This feels…sinister.”

Another, viewed 4 million times, reads “the Spanish are doubling down on Kate’s condition,” following further claims by Calleja.

A different post, seen 1 million times and liked 33,000 times, reads: “I have no problem with Kate Middleton taking time to recover from whatever is going on with her.

“I think it’s wonderful, because every day that she enjoys privacy & respect regarding whatever ails her, is further proof that Meghan Markle was intentionally bullied & abused.”

British Media Reaction

The British press ran the palace denial after it appeared in The Times and commentators backed the official line during a Talk TV debate. However, awkwardly for the palace, royal experts noted a level of secrecy around the princess’ health.

Emma Woolf, host of The Talk, said on February 3: “I think this Spanish journalist should be stripped of her media accreditation and I think that the Fiesta, the Spanish channel, should issue a formal apology to Kate and her family.

“What are they going to invent next? That she’s dead? I think this is really, really disgusting. It’s clear that it was a pretty serious operation whatever it was, that she had a long stay in hospital, she wasn’t seen leaving the hospital.

“I think it’s more serious than Kensington Palace have revealed and her privacy should be respected. But I think this is a despicable and really malicious piece of clickbait.”

Panelist Kevin O’Sullivan shared how surprised he was to discover Kate’s recovery time in hospital would be two weeks, adding: “This is no minor operation.”

“I’m sure this is absolute rubbish but considering we haven’t really been put in the picture by the palace you can’t—I wouldn’t say you can’t blame foreign journalists for speculating but you might as well expect speculation.”

It is a familiar pattern that when there is a vacuum of information, and particularly a vacuum of visual images, conspiracy theories thrive and the same trend was seen when Meghan Markle and Prince Harry had a period out of the public eye last summer.

Wild rumors emerged that they were going through a secret $80 million divorce, which disintegrated as soon as they appeared together at the Invictus Games in September and behaved affectionately towards one another on camera.

Kensington Palace has been fiercely protective over Kate’s privacy from the word go in relation to her operation and have always indicated they will not give a running commentary.

However, one way to dispel the gossip—and its capacity to attract huge audiences on social media—would be to release a photograph.

There is no sign yet of any plans for this and Newsweek understands the palace is certainly in no mind to release one to counter the rumors.

Who is Concha Calleja?

Concha Calleja—who describes herself as a royal expert—is a Spanish journalist for Fiesta, which according to The Times, has about 900,000 viewers.

On her website, she asks readers to consider whether Princess Diana may have been murdered: “What if Diana of Wales was not buried where thousands of people go year after year to pay her homage? Were her last wishes really respected?

“How much money is still generating her memory? Who were behind her death, which many people call a murder? And the most important: Who was really Diana Spencer?

“If you also ask yourself these, or other questions, I invite you in my book to investigate with me and draw your own conclusions.”

Another of her books is titled Michael Jackson: The Conspiracy to End the King of Pop, and her website suggests the singer was murdered.

Jack Royston is Newsweek‘s chief royal correspondent based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek’s The Royals Facebook page.

Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We’d love to hear from you.