Earlier this year, a Russian disinformation campaign targeting the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, has come under scrutiny as the U.K. government responds with sanctions against those involved.
On October 28, the U.K. placed sanctions on three Russian agencies, including Social Design Agency (SDA) and its partner, Structura, for their roles in a broader online misinformation effort called “Doppelganger.”
Conspiracy Theories: Russian Disinformation Against Kate Middleton
This campaign has reportedly been pushing pro-Russian narratives and obscuring details of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to British authorities, these Russian-linked groups amplified rumors about Kate’s health, including her alleged abdominal surgery and cancer diagnosis, using these fabricated stories to fuel public curiosity and spread pro-Russian propaganda.
Officials describe Doppelganger as “a vast malign online network” that uses fake posts, counterfeit documents, and even deepfake technology to flood social media with misinformation and distort public perception, distracting from the realities of the Ukraine war.
Martin Innes, director of the Security, Crime, and Intelligence Innovation Institute at Cardiff University, explained that the campaign did not start these conspiracies but rather took advantage of their popularity online.
“It’s not as though these Russia-linked accounts were driving the story; they were jumping on it,” Innes said NBC.
He pointed out that foreign actors saw an opportunity to spread their own narratives once the conspiracy angle gained traction, using it to undermine institutions and sow discord in the public mind.
Kate was not the only member of the royal family targeted this year.
Before she addressed the rumors about her health, Russian media circulated false reports that King Charles had passed away, an untrue story which quickly prompted the British Embassy in Kyiv to label it fake on X (formerly Twitter).
“Today’s sanctions send a clear message: we will not tolerate your lies and interference, and we are coming after you,” Said part of the official statement of October 28, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy.