Ever since it was (vaguely) announced she was undergoing “planned” abdominal surgery and that would involve a long recovery time, wild conspiracy theories about where Kate Middleton is have exploded online. The beloved Princess of Wales was last seen at the annual walk to church on Christmas Day 2023, accompanied by her husband Prince William, and their three children — Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.
Kensington Palace announced that Catherine was operated on at The London Clinic on January 16, 2024. “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 statement said. “Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.”
“The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. 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,” the statement continued. “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 apologize 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,” it concluded.
Many Royal fans took to the comments on Instagram to express their concern and wish a speedy recovery to the Princess of Wales. One top comment read, “That’s very concerning. That’s a looong hospital stay and longer recovery. As a surgical nurse, I know this must’ve been a very serious medical procedure. Hoping for a full recovery for this young mom. ❤️” Another read, “Gosh…this writing format gave me a heart attack for a second. Wishing the Princess a quick recovery.”
It has certainly generated interest, as “abdominal surgery” could have a myriad of meanings, not to mention her long hospital stay post-op caused fans to worry and speculate. Didn’t Catherine have events on her calendar that had to be canceled because of her health? But “planned surgery” just means it wasn’t an emergency. She could have been to the doctor on Friday and booked in for a procedure on Tuesday. What has gotten people talking is the fact that, despite reports of her recovering at home, no pictures of her leaving the hospital and no privately taken images were released either.
Tabloid headlines and royal experts certainly haven’t helped. In fact, some coverage that skirts the edges of media ethics has seemingly added fuel to the fire. “Pregnant primary school teacher, 26, suffering same ‘morning sickness’ as the Princess of Wales killed herself after medical care ‘contributed to a deterioration in her mental health’, coroner rules” read one Daily Mail headline published on January 30, 2024.
In 2017, it was revealed that Catherine suffered from Hyperemesis gravidarum, which is severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. With the help of media lawyers, I’m certain, the British news outlet has suggested, however vaguely, that the Princess might be experiencing mental health issues.
Queen Camilla’s biographer, meanwhile, made a similar connotation. On GBN, Angela Levin implied that because Prince William “had to deal” with his mother Princess Diana’s “crying and screaming” when he was 15, he’ll be better equipped to prioritize his wife’s health now that he’s a grown man.
Another journalist, Concha Calleja, claimed that the Princess of Wales had undergone a hysterectomy—removal of the uterus—and that “they had to intubate her” in an induced coma when she “suffered serious complications during the post-operative period,” citing she had reputable sources to back up these claims.
Calleja continued: “They were serious complications that were not expected,” she said. “What I cannot confirm is if this continues like this, if they have waited for that fifteen-day process. Her life has been in great danger. In fact, the concern in the Royal Family was palpable, it was to save lives.”
The Palace responded to the rumor, not in an official statement but via a source. “It’s total nonsense,” a palace insider told The Times. “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.”
Adding more to the mystery, Prince William pulled out of a memorial service for his godfather, Greece’s King Constantine III, due to “personal reasons”. Kensington Palace did not elaborate, but it’s understood the Prince’s absence had nothing to do with Middleton. A source told The Mirror: “The Princess of Wales continues to be doing well.”
US Associate Editor and on-air Royals correspondent at Daily Mail, Charlie Lankston, told StyleCaster that Middleton “isn’t missing, she’s not meant to return to Royal duties until after Easter.” The issue is that public figure or not, everyone deserves privacy when it comes to their health. Disclosing personal health information without consent not only violates said privacy but also sets a concerning precedent for everyone’s right to confidentiality.
Health issues are deeply personal and can have significant impacts on an individual’s life as well as their family, so it’s crucial to respect their autonomy in deciding what, if anything, they want to share publicly. Princess Catherine may tell us when she’s ready, but I don’t expect her to.
