Kate Middleton’s absence from royal duties has sparked a frenzy of social media jokes, memes and conspiracy theories, which have not gone away after a picture of her was printed by TMZ.
The Princess of Wales had abdominal surgery in January. She had not been seen since Christmas Day when the U.S. tabloid website printed paparazzi pictures purporting to show her in the passenger seat of a car alongside mother Carole Middleton.
While the episode may seem innocuous enough from a distance there is heightened respect in a context where some might want to use her image to glean an insight into her health, over which she has a right to privacy.
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
On the other hand, armchair investigators have been pawing over every detail of this story, seemingly convinced Kensington Palace is trying to hide some deeper truth.
That meant the TMZ images landed on a febrile social media atmosphere but—despite the outlet’s efforts to present its coverage as the innocuous solution to an idle mystery—the social media appetite for conspiracy does not appear to have been sated.
Some have even suggested it is not Kate in the pictures which could present problems for the palace.
As long as there is a mystery, there will be demand for further pictures and that could motivate more paparazzi photographers to head to Windsor in the hope of spotting her.
Many posts included the images themselves and Newsweek has not—and is not—publishing the pictures of Kate.
One post viewed over half a million times read: “They wanted whoever this woman is pretending to be Kate Middleton to be seen lol. That’s right baby change that narrative.”
Hate to be the bearer of bad news but my tweets are getting an awful lot of likes when the UK is awake. It’s not just the “sussex squad” who are wondering where the hell Kate Middleton is.
— Henry VIII (@SussexHenryVIII) March 2, 2024
Another, viewed 3.4 million times, showed a picture of Michael Jackson and read: “The UK said ‘Kate Middleton seen for the first time’.”
Meanwhile, Kate’s uncle Gary Goldsmith told the Daily Mirror the conspiracy theories were out of line during an interview ahead of entering the Celebrity Big Brother house in Britain.
“I think they should leave her alone right now because there’s a reason why they’re [family] not talking about it and they are giving her a little bit of space,” he said.
“I just think it’s fundamentally wrong and if it was happening to anybody else they would think to give them some space. But because Kate’s Kate, she does such an amazing job, there’s always interest in her.
“She’s the number one royal for a reason and I just beg people to give her some space. I do think that they’re changing the dynamic and they are family-centric.
“They’ve got duty and it’s a privilege to have the roles that they do have, but it’s family first. You’ve got to look after yourself.
“You put your own oxygen mask on before you look after others. Kate, get well, love you and when you’re ready we’ll see you again. That’s what we do to anyone else, why not her?”
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.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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