Kate’s Health Speculation: Why the Internet Spiraled
Attempting to make it make sense.
“Where is KATE!” read a text from a friend.
“do you think Kate is ok 👀” asked another.
“Going down a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories,” a third admitted.
Catherine (a.k.a. Kate Middleton) became the hottest topic on the internet this week as a flurry of — wholly unfounded — speculation about her health and whereabouts spread from the corners of the internet to the mainstream media. “Rumors Swirl Amid Concern Over the Princess of Wales,” read the headline in the New York Times.
I have been reluctant to say anything beyond the “omg please stop” sentiment I posted to Stories on Tuesday. This firestorm is both absurd and indicative of a much bigger problem, the intense scrutiny royal women face. There is an entitlement and a set of expectations placed on their shoulders that feels, at best, outdated and unfair. We have been down this path before and we know the damage it has done to Diana, Princess of Wales and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.
And yet, I received enough questions from concerned, well-meaning people about Kate that I wanted to offer up some answers. Below, you will find an explainer tracing the social media spiral, from why this started to what has been said and how it got so far. Keep scrolling for my take on how King Charles III may be (unintentionally) contributing and the palace’s (rather curt) response, along with why I think we haven’t seen Kate (and won’t, until after Easter).
As always, I would love to hear from YOU. Please click below to share your thoughts in the comments.
ICYMI: Here is my newsletter from when we first learned about the princess’s surgery, with some context on royal health matters.
Kate’s Health Speculation: Why the Internet Spiraled
First things first, where is Kate?
Catherine is at home in Windsor recovering from abdominal surgery, according to Kensington Palace.
Just to recap: The Princess of Wales had the procedure on Jan. 16 at the London Clinic, according to the first statement released the following day. “Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter,” the palace said at that time.
Kate was discharged from the London Clinic, according to a second statement on Jan. 29 and began her recovery at the family’s home in Windsor. The princess “is making good progress,” the palace said. Stephanie Petit of People quoted a source close to the royal household as saying the extended recovery time at home was “sensible”:
“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.”