Catherine, Princess of Wales, made her first public appearance of the year Saturday at Trooping the Colour, the official birthday ceremony for her father-in-law, King Charles III. Will photos and videos of her in person finally put an end to the conspiracy theories swirling around the princess?
Catherine – also known as Kate Middleton – became the subject of these theories when she stepped back from public life earlier this year. In January, Kensington Palace announced that she was admitted to the hospital for abdominal surgery. Around two months later, Middleton announced that she was being treated for cancer.
Prior to that announcement, video and images that were allegedly of the princess shared by TMZ sparked rumors, as well as an incident where an official royal family account shared an edited photo. In an X post, Middleton apologized for confusion regarding the photo.
“Many of the same people who are now silently atoning were mere days ago scrutinizing video footage of the princess and declaring that they didn’t believe it was really her – and they were doing it openly, loudly, not in the dark recesses of some online conspiracy forum,” said Slate in March. “How to explain this mass delusion? Has it all been a great concession to this kind of untethered-from-reality thinking?”
While her March cancer announcement included a video, even that didn’t seem to completely quash the conspiracies. Some people on social media were convinced that it was generated by artificial intelligence. There was a similar reaction to a photo of Middleton standing in a wooded area that Kensington Palace shared this week.
Getty Images did run the image with a disclaimer that said: ““This Handout image was provided by a third-party organization and may not adhere to Getty Images’ editorial policy.” However, Glamour noted that Getty will mention when images and videos come from sources other than their own photographers.
“That doesn’t mean it’s fake, despite conspiracy theorists online insisting it was made with AI. Sometimes a pic is just a pic, you know?” Glamour said regarding other media from the Royal Family.
While some of the rumors persist, Middleton said in a message that went along with the photo shared this week that she has been “blown away” by the supportive messages sent her way.
“It really has made the world of difference to William {Prince of Wales] and me and has helped us both through some of the harder times. I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days,” she said. “On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.”
As the honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards, who led the charge in Trooping the Colour, she was expected to attend the June 8 rehearsal for the event, according to People. However, the outlet said she was not able to attend.
“Being your colonel remains a great honor, and I am very sorry that I’m unable to take the salute at this year’s Colonel’s Review,” said Middleton in a letter shared by People. “Please pass my apologies to the whole Regiment, however, I do hope that I am able to represent you all once again very soon. Please send my very best wishes and good luck to all involved.”
People said the princess was a “welcomed” sight at the Saturday Trooping the Colour parade, which includes more than 1,400 officers and soldiers.
Photos show her in the Royal Family’s Glass Coach with her three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6. She was wearing a white dress by Jenny Packham and a hat by Phillip Treacy. King Charles, who also had a recent cancer diagnosis, attended the ceremony via coach rather than on horseback, as he usually does.
“While Princess Kate has maintained a low public profile in the months since her cancer announcement as she focuses on recovery, she was recently spotted out with her family as well as running errands solo, sources told People,” per the outlet.
In her announcement this week on X, Middleton hinted that she would return to public life more regularly soon.
“My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months. On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home,” she said, adding that she hopes to “join a few public engagements over the summer,” though she is “not out of the woods yet.”
She went on to say: “I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal. Thank you so much for your continued understanding, and to all of you who have so bravely shared your stories with me.”