Palace issues report on Kate after online conspiracy theories abound
Update FILE PHOTO: Catherine, Princess of Wales attends the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2023 in Sandringham, Norfolk. The princess is recovering from a planned abdominal surgery. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images) (Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
By Debbie Lord, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Kensington Palace issued a statement Thursday, trying to quell social media rumors about the health of the Princess of Wales.
Kate, who is recovering from abdominal surgery, has been out of the public eye since the surgery on Jan. 16. In recent days, conspiracy theories about her health and whereabouts have been cropping up on several social media sites.
The palace released the statement that reiterates the statement it issued when it was announced the princess had had surgery.
“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,” a spokesperson for the princess said Thursday.
The spokesperson added that Kate was “doing well.”
Speculation about her health bubbled up after Prince William withdrew Monday from the memorial services for King Constantine of Greece, his godfather.
On Tuesday, the palace released a statement saying that the princess “continues to be doing well.”
When the surgery was disclosed on Jan. 17, a day after it had occurred, the palace said the princess would be stepping away from any duties until after Easter.
The palace added that they would “only provide updates on Her Royal Highness’ progress when there is significant new information to share.”
The prince and princess and their children spent most of her recovery at their home in Windsor, according to The New York Times, but traveled to Anmer Hall on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk in February.
On Feb. 5, King Charles announced that he was battling cancer. Buckingham Palace did not say what type of cancer Charles has. The cancer was discovered, according to his doctors, when he was having a prostate procedure.
On Wednesday King Charles was photographed being driven from his home, Clarence House. He has resumed some official business, including meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The palace did not say what kind of surgery the princess had, only that it was successful and was “not cancerous.”
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton as a 5-year-old. (Middleton Family/Clarence House/Getty Images )
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton, back row, third from left, is pictured in a tennis team photo during her time as a pupil at St Andrew's School in Pangbourne, England, where she attended from 1986 to 1995. (St Andrew's School - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton and her father, Michael Middleton, before her graduation from the University of St. Andrews in June 2005. (Indigo/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton does some shopping during the Gatcombe Park Festival of British Eventing in August 2005. (Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Prince Harry, left, Prince William, center, and Kate Middleton cheer on the English team during the RBS Six Nations Championship match between England and Italy in 2007. (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton takes part in a training session with The Sisterhood cross channel rowing team on the Thames in August 2007. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton and Prince William announced their engagement in November 2010. ( Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend the Calgary Stampede in 2011. (Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton, right, sits with her sister, Pippa Middleton in the Royal Box during the 2012 Wimbledon men's final between Roger Federer and Andy Murray. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton plays hockey with the GB hockey teams at the Riverside Arena in 2012. (Chris Jackson - WPA Pool /Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton and Queen Elizabeth II enjoy a children's sporting event in 2012. (Phil Noble - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, depart The Lindo Wing with their newborn son, Prince George, at St Mary's Hospital on July 23, 2013, in London. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton waves her wand and casts a spell on the set used to depict Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter Films during the Inauguration Of Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden in 2013. (Paul Rogers - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton tries her hand at cricket during the countdown to the ICC Cricket World Cup on April 14, 2014, in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Joseph Johnson/Getty Images for ICC Cricket World Cup)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry spearheaded a campaign called Heads Together in 2016. (Nicky J Sims/Getty Images for Royal Foundation)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge pose with Prince Louis after his birth in 2018. (Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle attend Wimbledon in 2018. (Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years. Princess Charlotte arrives for her first day of school, with her brother Prince George and her parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, at Thomas's Battersea in London on Sept. 5, 2019, in London. (Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit Badshahi Mosque during their royal tour of Pakistan in October 2019. (Owen Humphreys - Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge enjoy some sports during a 2020 trip to Ireland. ( Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, center, is flanked by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, on the balcony overlooking the Cenotaph during the National Service of Remembrance on Nov. 14, 2021, in London. (Richard Pohle - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton, left, chats with U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu as they return to the LTA's National Tennis Centre for The Homecoming on Sept. 24, 2021 in London. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images for LTA)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge take part in a land yachting session on West Sands beach in May 2021. (Max Mumby, pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Kate Middleton tries her hand at archery during a 2021 visit to Wolverhampton, England. (Jacob King - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Kate Middleton Through the Years SANDRINGHAM, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales, look at floral tributes, following the death of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, at Sandringham Estate on September 15, 2022 in Sandringham, England. (Photo Toby Melville - WPA Pool/Getty Images) (WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Kate Middleton Through the Years LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales is driven down The Mall after the funeral for HM Queen Elizabeth II's funeral on September 19, 2022 in London, England. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born in Bruton Street, Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926. She married Prince Philip in 1947 and ascended the throne of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth on 6 February 1952 after the death of her Father, King George VI. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. (Photo by Tom Jenkins - WPA Pool/Getty Images) (WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Kate Middleton Through the Years CARRICKFERGUS, NORTHERN IRELAND - OCTOBER 06: Catherine, Princess of Wales pictured during her visit to Carrickfergus on October 6, 2022 in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales are on a one day visit to the province. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) (Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
Kate Middleton Through the Years LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 13: Catherine, Princess of Wales plays boccia as she attends the 10th Anniversary Celebration of Coach Core at Copper Box Arena on October 13, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Heathcliff O'Malley - WPA Pool/Getty Images) (WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Photos: Kate Middleton through the years Catherine, Princess of Wales attends the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2023 in Sandringham, Norfolk. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images) (Stephen Pond/Getty Images)