Amidst a tempest of speculation swirling around Kate Middleton’s well-being, Prince William has chosen to end the silence with a formal statement.
In recent days, there’s been a flurry of commentary regarding the Princess of Wales, particularly after TMZ released the first glimpse of her since Christmas. The image, somewhat blurry, captures Kate seated in a vehicle outside Windsor Castle, accompanied by her mother. Its publication on Monday reignited curiosity about her current state.
Despite undergoing a “planned abdominal procedure” in January, the Royal Family has maintained a stoic silence regarding Kate’s health. While this reticence might align with the typical approach of The Firm, the lack of updates has only served to heighten public apprehension.
For the past couple of months, speculation has run rampant regarding the true reason behind Kate’s hospitalization and the subsequent prolongation of her absence until at least Easter.
Amidst this conjecture, Spanish newspaper Marca went as far as suggesting that Kate had lapsed into a coma during her lengthy 13-day stay at the London Clinic. However, the Palace swiftly responded with a statement refuting this assertion.
Evidently, there’s a concerted effort from the authorities to dispel certain rumors as they surface online. While updates from Kensington Palace have been sporadic, they did address and dismiss the coma claim made by Marca. Additionally, last week, they intervened again as speculations arose regarding Prince William’s nonattendance at a memorial service for the late King Constantine of Greece, clarifying that it was unrelated to his wife’s health.
“Back in January, Kensington Palace laid out the roadmap for the princess’ recovery, stating that only major updates would be forthcoming”, her spokesperson affirmed just last week. “And that stance remains unchanged.”
They emphasized once more that Middleton’s condition was “progressing positively”.
Given this, it’s perhaps not unexpected that Prince William has chosen to speak out amidst the escalating flurry of inquiries regarding Kate’s location and health.
Following the circulation of Kate’s image outside Windsor Castle, a representative for William informed People Magazine, stating: “His focus remains on his duties, not on social media”.
Adding to the confusion, reports emerged on Tuesday suggesting that Kate’s official return would occur during a Trooping the Colour rehearsal in June. Tickets for the event were made available to the public, only for the Ministry of Defence to subsequently remove any mention of Kate’s participation from their website.
In response, a spokesperson from Kensington Palace reiterated: “The timelines regarding the Princess’s hospitalization and planned return to royal duties were clearly outlined from the beginning. There have been no changes”. Echoing a statement made the previous week, the palace reaffirmed: “The princess continues to progress well”.
Here’s to wishing Kate Middleton a swift recovery!