The Princess of Wales has become the focus of increased attention and speculation in recent weeks, approaching the three-month mark of her last official public appearance on Christmas Day 2023.
The royal underwent “planned abdominal surgery” on January 16, after which Kensington Palace said she was not expected to return to public duties until “after Easter” (March 31).
Despite this, as weeks went by with limited updates on Kate’s health and recovery from the palace were given, conspiracy theories and rumors spread across social media and the world’s press. These unfounded claims ranged from jokes that she had gone “missing,” to claims she was undergoing a cosmetic procedure.
“Me falling down the Kate Middleton is Missing Rabbit hole,” wrote one X (formerly Twitter) user of the social media discourse around the princess.
Aaron Chown – WPA Pool/Getty Images
On March 10, following the publication of an unauthorized paparazzi photograph days earlier, Kate released the first official photograph since her surgery to mark Mother’s Day in Britain.
Rather than halt the rumor mill and conspiracies, the photograph sparked a media scandal. Evidence of image manipulation was identified within the portrait of Kate and her three children, leading several photo agencies to issue “kill” notices telling news outlets to cease its publication over a breach of guidelines.
Kate took to social media to post a personally authored apology for the editing, but has since remained behind palace walls with no further clear images of the princess being made available.
In the continued absence of regular updates on Kate’s health and recovery from Kensington Palace (she is not expected to be back at royal events until after Easter) the public have looked to Prince William’s official appearances to see what, if anything, he says about his wife.
Here, Newsweek looks at everything William has said about Kate since she went “missing” to recover from abdominal surgery.
‘Medical Focus’
Following Kate’s surgery on January 16, Prince William canceled his immediate public engagements to support her and the couple’s three children.
He made his return to public events on February 7, expressing thanks for the well-wishes he and his family had received, particularly after it was announced that King Charles III was also facing medical issues, leading to a diagnosis days earlier with cancer.
Attending a gala dinner for the London Air Ambulance Charity in Westminster, William joked that the past weeks had a “medical focus” and thanked those gathered for their “support.”
Speech at London’s Air Ambulance Charity Gala Dinner—February 7
“I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you, also, for the kind messages of support for Catherine and for my father, especially in recent days. It means a great deal to us all. It’s fair to say the past few weeks have had a rather ‘medical’ focus. So I thought I’d come to an air ambulance function to get away from it all!”
‘Sorry Catherine’s Not Here’
On February 18, William attended the BAFTA Film Awards in London. The royal would typically have been accompanied to the high-profile event by Kate, but this time attended solo.
During a backstage meeting with organizers and members of BAFTA, William was caught on camera apologizing for Kate’s absence and touchingly revealing that the couple watches each year’s nominated movies together.
BAFTA Film Awards—February 18
“I’m sorry Catherine’s not here as well. She does love the BATFAs as well. All the [movies] I watch she watches with me, so we go through it and carefully watch them…. I’ve done the fewest I’ve ever done before, annoyingly…. I’ve had other things on my mind.”
‘Extremely Concerned’
On February 29, William visited the Western Marble Arch Synagogue in London, shortly releasing a bold statement highlighting the human impact of the Israel-Palestine conflict in the Middle East.
During his visit, William referenced his wife, saying that she joined him in his concern about the rise of global antisemitism since the October 7 Hamas attack.
Western Marble Arch Synagogue, London—February 29
“Both Catherine and I are extremely concerned about the rise of antisemitism. I’m just so sorry that any of you have had to experience that. It has no place and it shouldn’t happen. So that’s why I’m here today, to reassure you all that people do care and do listen and we can’t let that keep going.”
Ben Birchall-WPA Pool/Getty Images
‘I Will Pass Those On’
William traveled to Wales solo on March 1 to mark St David’s Day, the national day of Wales.
After being made Prince and Princess of Wales by King Charles III following his accession in 2022, William and Kate would usually both have been expected to mark the day in some way.
After a community visit and time spent at a school in Wrexham, the prince was presented with flowers by a group of children for Kate, which he thanked them for and assured them he would “pass those on” to her.
Ysgol Yr Holl Saint – All Saints Primary School, Wales—March 1
“That’s really kind of you, thank you so much. That’s really kind. I will pass those on to Catherine.”
‘The Arty One’
Following the controversy sparked by the release of Kate’s Mother’s Day photo on March 10 and apology a day later, speculation and conspiracy theories about the princess grew, with many looking to Prince William’s public engagements to see if he would address the situation.
On March 14, he visited a youth community initiative in West London, where he spent time with organizers and young people, taking part at one point in a cookie decorating activity.
Though he did not directly mention the photo controversy surrounding his wife, when assessing his decorating skills he told the children: “My wife is the arty one.”
WEST OnSide Youth Zone, London—March 14
“My wife is the arty one.”
Following Diana’s Legacy
Later that same day, William attended a special legacy prizegiving ceremony organized by the Diana Award, the only charity that bares Princess Diana’s name.
To mark the 25th anniversary of the award, William gave a special speech in which he referenced Kate.
The royal said that his mother’s legacy served as an example which “both Catherine and I have sought to focus on through our work.”
The Diana Award 25th Anniversary Event, London—March 14
“This evening’s Legacy Award is particularly special as it marks the 25th anniversary year of The Diana Award—a charity set up to reflect my mother’s belief that young people can change the world.
“I know that she would have been honored to see a charity in her name doing such inspirational work to uplift young people from all corners of the globe.
“She taught me that everyone has the potential to give something back, that everyone in need deserves a supporting hand in life.
“That legacy is something that both Catherine and I have sought to focus on through our work, as have the 50,000 young people who have received a Diana Award over the past 25 years.
“I am incredibly proud to see this manifested in the amazing young people receiving the Legacy Award tonight.”
What Next?
Kensington Palace’s last update on Kate’s health was given on February 27, where they reiterated that she continued to be doing “well” and that their previous guidance with regards to her recovery timeline stood.
At the time of Kate’s surgery in January, the palace said that she was not expected to return to public events until “after Easter,” upon the advice of her doctors. This means fans won’t expect to see the princess out and about at engagements again until at least March 31.
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek‘s royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek‘s The Royals Facebook page.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.