Princess Kate is recovering after undergoing a planned operation earlier this year, but the public is still worried about her whereabouts. Although Kensington Palace confirmed that she would not return to public duties until the spring, fans of the royal family had been spreading conspiracy theories over her absence. Some have alleged that Kate’s Mother’s Day Instagram photo was AI generated, and the Agence France-Presse (AFP) even said that Kensington Palace is “not a trusted source.”
The royal put the rumors to rest when she announced her cancer diagnosis in a March 2022 video.
“We hope you’ll understand that as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment,” Kate explained. “My work has alway brought me a deep sense of joy, and I look forward to being back when I’m able. But for now, I must focus on making a full recovery.”
Find out what Kate is doing now amid her recovery.
What Happened to Kate Middleton?
In January, Kensington Palace announced that the Princess of Wales underwent a “planned abdominal surgery” and was expected to make a full recovery.
“The surgery was successful, and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days, before returning home to continue her recovery,” the palace explained in its statement. “Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.”
The palace acknowledged that Kate expected the public to be concerned about her condition and reassured fans that she was healthy.
“The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate,” the palace added. “She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible, and her wish that her personal medical information remains private. Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness’ progress when there is significant new information to share. The Princess of Wales wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements. She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible.”
Two months later, Kate was spotted in public for the first time in a car with her mother, Carole. That month, the royal was seen out and about again with her husband, Prince William, also riding in a car. In March, the Prince and Princess of Wales were reportedly seen on a shopping date in the U.K., and Kate was looking “happy” and “healthy.”
Unfortunately, the Princess of Wales was diagnosed with cancer, she revealed in a heart-wrenching video message on March 22. In it, Kate explained that she and her family need “time” to deal with her condition away from the public eye.
“As you can imagine, this has taken time,” Kate said. “It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be OK.”
A message from Catherine, The Princess of Wales pic.twitter.com/5LQT1qGarK
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 22, 2024
Are There AI-Generated Images of Kate?
In early March 2024, social media users were weary about a specific photo that the Princess of Wales posted to Instagram in celebration of Mother’s Day in the U.K. The image was taken down after the Associated Press issued a “kill notification” about it, warning journalists and accompanying websites to avoid using the “manipulated” picture. In the snapshot, viewers noticed that Kate and William’s children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — appeared to have been Photoshopped.
Shortly thereafter, Kate issued a statement via X and her Instagram Stories, admitting that she had edited the image.
“Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,” she explained. “I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day.”
Nevertheless, Instagram put an “altered photo” warning label on Kate’s post.
What Is Prince William Doing Amid Kate’s Recovery?
As his wife continues to keep a low profile at the moment, the Prince of Wales has been attending a few events. He has not directly responded to Kate’s absence from public outings.
In her moving video message on March 22, Kate credited William as a “great source of comfort and reassurance.”