Palace Issues Rare Statement On Kate Middleton’s Health Struggles

Amidst rampant speculation and the spread of conspiracy theories about the Princess of Wales’ absence from public appearances, Kensington Palace issued a statement Thursday to address the ongoing rumors.

A spokesperson for Princess Kate stated, “We were very clear from the outset that the Princess of Wales was out until after Easter and Kensington Palace would only be providing updates when something was significant.” They also added that the princess, who is 42, is “doing well.”

After Prince William unexpectedly missed a memorial service dedicated to his late godfather on Tuesday, the internet saw a surge in concern for Princess Kate’s health, sparking numerous conspiracy theories. This happened despite assurances from a palace source on Tuesday that Kate “continues to be doing well” in her recovery process.

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A source close to the royal household mentioned to PEOPLE, “It is sensible to take the time.” They continued, “That is a great example to the rest of us, as you’re often told to get back to work as soon as possible, which can be damaging. It is good for all of us to see her taking the time, recovering properly and then coming back. We can all learn from that.”

One source informed the Daily Mail in early February, saying, “Catherine is recovering well.” They added, “She was looking forward to a change of scene and will be able to take it easy in Norfolk while the children let off steam with William.” In their announcement of her surgery, made on Jan. 17 a day following the procedure, the palace explained Princess Kate wishes “that her personal medical information remains private.”

Harper’s BAZAAR reported:

Since her surgery, the palace has released very few statements regarding Kate’s progress. On January 29, they confirmed that she was discharged from the London Clinic and had returned home to Windsor. “The prince and princess wish to say a huge thank you to the entire team at the London Clinic, especially the dedicated nursing staff, for the care they have provided,” the statement read. “The Wales family continues to be grateful for the well wishes they have received from around the world.”

A more recent update arrived on February 27, when a source close to the family told Bazaar that Kate’s recovery was still going well.

The princess’s absence has sparked an uproar online, with users across X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) and TikTok developing conspiracies to explain her uncharacteristic absence from public life. These unsubstantiated claims have ranged from jokes about her working at the controversial Willy Wonka pop-up in Glasgow to theories that she is in a coma.

The royal family has been battling a myriad of health issues as of late. Earlier in the week it was reported that staff of King Charles III are developing his succession plan, raising concerns that his cancer diagnosis is “more dangerous than we have been led to believe.” Charles announced that he was diagnosed with cancer following a hospital admission for an unrelated condition related to an enlarged prostate. The specific kind of cancer remains undisclosed to the public.