Kate Middleton’s Two-Month Absence From the Spotlight Has Fueled Royal Conspiracy Theories

Where in the world is Kate Middleton? That’s what a lot of royal fans are asking right now because it’s been almost two months since she’s been seen in public. The obvious answer is recovering from what Kensington Palace called “planned abdominal surgery,” but many people have questions about why there hasn’t been a message or photo from her in months — the conspiracy theories are running wild!

One X account started a conversation about the Princess of Wales’ whereabouts that spun in a million directions. “I am not trying to be a conspiracy theorist about the situation at all, but it is WILD how much the royal family has shut down press about where Kate Middleton is/why she hasn’t been seen,” she wrote. One fan tried to shut down the discussion almost immediately by replying, “It’s almost like privacy,” which is important because Kate does deserve the space to heal without everybody nosing in her business.

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After that response, social media accounts went into a tailspin about what is happening at the palace. “This extraordinary shutdown is not protecting Kate or guarding her privacy,” another account chimed in. “It’s protecting the institution itself. Whatever has happened to her has jeopardised the royal family and the whole idea of monarchy in an unprecedented way.” The unfounded rumor that the Princess of Wales is in a coma still persists because royal fans expected at least a social media snapshot or an official palace message from her by now. The media blackout designed to give her privacy is almost having the opposite effect and creating fantastical stories about what her condition is.

One account speculated that there’s trouble in the marriage and that Prince William’s BAFTA appearance was to “get the public used to seeing him without Kate. That marriage is so over. They’re phasing Kate out.” There were other theories about mental health struggles, a possible stroke, and even long COVID was thrown around in the lengthy thread. Maybe what makes the palace messaging so confusing is that they have shared that she’s been “responding to emails,” but there’s been no update from her — and everyone is eagerly waiting to hear from her.

Kate’s last public appearance was on Dec. 25 at the traditional royal walk at Sandringham Estate which feels like a lifetime ago. Even royal experts are voicing their concerns that the family hasn’t tried to stop “the rumor mill from spinning” out of control. Newsweek‘s chief royal correspondent, Jack Royston sounded the alarm on Sky News on Thursday noting, “[The Princess of Wales] is still recovering, we still haven’t seen her, we still haven’t seen a picture of her. I am starting to wonder if it might be worth their while, considering whether they could release something that had been taken at a calm private moment, just to reassure people that she is ok.”

The palace hasn’t been great about handling PR in a graceful way the last few years — the silent method never works. But they have to find a way to respect Kate’s medical privacy while stopping the rumors in its tracks — and they need to do it soon.

Before you go, click here to see more of Kate Middleton’s best royal fashion moments.

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