The Princess of Wales has found herself at the center of numerous unfounded conspiracy theories in recent days and weeks.

Catherine, the Princess of Wales, is reportedly aware of the media attention and various conspiracy theories surrounding her recent absence from public life, as stated in a report by Britain’s The Sunday Times. The article, which cited unnamed “friends” of the princess, was published over the weekend.

The former Kate Middleton, aged 42, has largely kept a low profile since acknowledging that a family portrait she released on March 10 had undergone digital alterations. However, video footage surfaced on March 18, showing Kate and Prince William at a market over the weekend. In the footage, the princess appeared cheerful, clad in black leggings and a sweatshirt, as the royal couple carried their shopping bags. Kensington Palace declined to comment on the video.

Kate had been on an extended hiatus from public engagements to recuperate from planned abdominal surgery she underwent in January, according to Kensington Palace.

Notably, she was absent from this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in Aldershot, England, an event she has attended in previous years.

During her absence, Prince William has continued to fulfill royal engagements solo, including a recent visit to a youth center and an appearance at the Diana Legacy Awards on March 14.

According to sources close to William cited by The Sunday Times, the well-being of the Wales family “bubble” remains the prince’s top priority.

Roya Nikkhah, the royal editor for The Sunday Times, noted on TODAY that the couple hoped and expected their request for privacy during Kate’s recovery to be respected.

The newspaper suggested that the princess may not make another public appearance until mid-April, following the children’s Easter break from school.

In terms of her surgery, Kate underwent planned abdominal surgery on January 16, and a royal spokesperson confirmed that she was “doing well” in February. The palace has not disclosed specifics about the surgery, but it was clarified that the condition necessitating the procedure was non-cancerous.

Following her hospitalization for 13 days, Kate returned home to continue her recovery. A statement from Kensington Palace on January 29 expressed gratitude for the care provided by The London Clinic and the well wishes from around the world.

Kensington Palace reiterated that Kate’s prolonged absence from public duties had been pre-planned and announced, in response to unfounded online rumors about her health and whereabouts.

Despite Kensington Palace’s previous clarification in January regarding the timeline of the princess’s recovery and their intent to provide significant updates only, rumors continued to circulate online. Over the past few months, baseless conspiracy theories have emerged, suggesting that Kate Middleton is missing or underwent a secret cosmetic procedure, gaining traction on social media platforms.

Speculation intensified in early March after Kate released a photo for U.K. Mother’s Day featuring herself and her children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The caption expressed gratitude for well wishes and support over the preceding two months, wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day. However, several leading photo agencies issued “kill notices” for the picture due to apparent digital manipulation.

While it was reported that the photo likely wasn’t created using AI, it appeared to have been edited in a program like Photoshop. Such professional photos often undergo editing for effects like color brightness and contrast. However, because the royal portrait was manipulated in multiple ways, it failed to meet the standards of many news wire services. For instance, The Associated Press pointed out an inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte’s left hand, which violated their photo standards.

Following the controversy, Kate seemingly addressed the photo editing concerns in a social media post.

In a message posted on the official social media account of the Prince and Princess of Wales on March 11, Kate Middleton addressed the controversy surrounding the family photograph released for U.K. Mother’s Day. She explained that, like many amateur photographers, she occasionally experiments with editing, expressing her apologies for any confusion caused by the photo. She concluded the message by wishing everyone celebrating a very happy Mother’s Day.

As for Kate Middleton’s current status, Kensington Palace stated that she has taken a temporary break from her public duties to recover from abdominal surgery, as planned. Although she hasn’t made any official royal appearances since December, she has been spotted in a few unofficial photos since her surgery.

On March 4, photos surfaced showing Kate riding in an SUV driven by her mother, Carole Middleton, near Windsor Castle. The following week, another photo emerged depicting William and Kate riding together in the back of a Range Rover. Kensington Palace confirmed that the couple was on their way to a private appointment.

However, rumors quickly spread online suggesting that the Range Rover photo had also been digitally manipulated. Goff Photos, the agency that captured the image, denied these claims in a statement on March 12, asserting that the photo had undergone only minor cosmetic touch-ups, such as cropping and lightening.

Despite the agency’s clarification, unfounded conspiracy theories persist online regarding the princess’s current circumstances.

Source: https://www.today.com/news/kate-middleton-news-rcna143835

Image Source: https://pagesix.com/2024/03/10/royal-family/kate-middleton-breaks-her-silence-with-new-photo-with-kids/