Since January 17, when it became known that Kate Middleton had undergone abdominal surgery and that she would be off work for more than two months, speculation about what was really wrong with her skyrocketed.
Online users wondered if she really had undergone surgery for an abdominal problem, or if it was true that she was progressing favorably.
Others speculated that Kate had suffered severe depression after Prince William had asked her for a divorce to go with his alleged mistress, Rose Hanbury.
Conspiracy theories spread online amid silence from Kensington Palace.
Conspiracy theories and rumors grew after the scandal of editing errors in Kate Middleton’s Mother’s Day photo.
Several news agencies then received a “Mandatory Death” to withdraw the image.
The palace refused to release the original, unedited photo, causing further distrust on social media.
For Phil Chetwynd, global news director for Agence France-Press (AFP), Kensington Palace was no longer a reliable source.
In an interview on BBC Radio 4’s The Media Show, asked if the Palace was “a trusted source,” he replied, “No, absolutely not. Like with anything, when you’re let down by a source the bar is raised.”
At this point, the credibility of the Prince and Princess of Wales began to fracture.
The Princess of Wales had almost three months without being seen in public officially.
Previously a photo of Kate in a car with her mother, Carole Middleton, had been leaked, but there were also doubts that it was her.
Then, a video was posted of the Prince and Princess of Wales shopping at a farm in Windsor. There were also doubts on social media that it was Kate Middleton.
#KateMiddleton seemed to be in good spirits while out and about with #PrinceWilliam Saturday. https://t.co/kLUsfvt3b2 (🎥: TMZ/The Sun) pic.twitter.com/EqbtVojBcw
— TMZ (@TMZ) March 18, 2024
On March 22, 2024, Princess of Wales Kate Middleton revealed to the world the real reason for her extended absence.
The wife of Prince William recorded a touching video recorded on March 20 in the gardens of her home in Windsor, but which was released two days later.
Kate, visibly moved, revealed her cancer diagnosis and reported that she was already undergoing preventive treatment.
The Princess of Wales shed light on the challenges she and her family have faced during her absence after undergoing scheduled abdominal surgery in January.
“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”
Kate acknowledged the immense emotional toll this journey has taken on her family.
She said it was a “huge shock” to learn of her cancer diagnosis and has tried to manage the illness privately with Prince William “for the sake of our young family,” she said.
A message from Catherine, The Princess of Wales pic.twitter.com/5LQT1qGarK
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 22, 2024
Why did Kate Middleton reveal her cancer diagnosis?
The news that Kate Middleton was suffering from cancer shook the British royals and the world.
However, what few knew is that the princess had no intention of revealing her illness publicly at the time.
According to exclusive reports from the ‘Daily Mail’, Kate was forced to announce her diagnosis due to an unexpected leak of her health condition.
Someone outside the royal family’s inner circle had discovered the princess’ true medical condition.
The person with all the information about the princess contacted Kensington Palace to inform them.
Faced with this delicate situation, advisors to the Prince and Princess of Wales acted quickly to take control of the narrative and prevent the news from spreading in an unwanted way.
Kate’s decision to record a personal video revealing her battle with cancer was a carefully planned strategy.
In doing so, she was able to control how the information was presented and convey a sincere and empathetic message to her followers.
Her goal was to be the only authorized voice to speak about her health condition, avoiding further rumors and speculation.
Kate was reportedly solely responsible for what she said and how she said it.
Mindful of past experiences with ambiguous communiqués and photoshopped photos, the princess chose to come forward showing her vulnerability and determination in equal proportions.
It should be noted that the precise details of who leaked the information and how they did it have yet to be revealed.
What is clear is that Kate Middleton was forced to take drastic measures to control the narrative about her health.
Kate asked her followers for time, space, and privacy to focus on her full recovery.
“We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space, and privacy while I complete my treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now, I must focus on making a full recovery.”
Her decision to go public with her cancer diagnosis demonstrated her commitment to transparency after skepticism surrounding her prolonged absence.