From wild BBL accusations to a potential kidney donation for King Charles, Princess Kate Middleton’s almost two months public appearance hiatus has launched the Internet into a total frenzy, with new conspiracy theories growing crazier by the day.
It all started in January 2024, when the Princess of Wales underwent abdominal surgery due to an undisclosed medical condition that reportedly did not involve cancer.
The 42-year-old mother-of-three was subsequently hospitalized at The London Clinic, which resulted in the postponement of several of her public engagements.
Nevertheless, her lengthy and unusual absence from the media sparked sinister speculations, with journalist Concha Calleja, notably falsely claiming on the popular Spanish news program Fiesta that Kate was in a coma due to complications, The Times reported at the start of the month.
From BBL rumors to offering a kidney to King Charles, Princess Kate’s disappearance has the internet buzzing with wild conspiracy theories
A Buckingham Palace source went on to deny the claims, stating it was “total nonsense.” They further told The Times: “It’s fundamentally, totally made-up, and I’ll use polite English here: it’s absolutely not the case.”
However, royal officials’ attempts to quiet rumors weren’t successful. In fact, the hashtag #WhereIsKate has been trending on social media, with some even saying that the speech Prince William made last week calling for “an end to the fighting” in Gaza suggested he was living separately from his wife and the royal couple was getting divorced, as per Grazia Daily.
Reddit communities dedicated to investigating the princess’ whereabouts have put some intriguing theories forward.
Princess Kate has not been seen publicly since her surgery that took place in January
In the Out Of The Loop community, one Redditor argued against the unfitting explanation that Kate had undergone a “planned” abdominal surgery because she had “events on her calendar that were then canceled.”
The Redditor highlighted King Charles’ separate medical procedure amidst his recent cancer diagnosis and how Charles had been “seen very publicly,” as opposed to Kate, whose speculated visits at friends and family members have been “shrouded in secrecy.”
“This is the same woman who was doing a photo op in full hair/makeup holding her newborn within 24 hours of each of her children’s births, and the same family that presumably urged her to do so,” the Redditor pointed out.
Princess Kate underwent abdominal surgery due to an undisclosed medical condition, but people think she had a hysterectomy
Kate Middleton hasn’t been seen for about 2 months now pic.twitter.com/NN1GqBD6PD
— stoned cold fox (@roastmalone_) February 27, 2024
They added: “So, either whatever she’s been through is much worse or makes her much less ‘presentable’ than giving birth or something has changed in her willingness to do a kind of ‘proof of life’ photo.”
Meanwhile, the popular Royals Gossip Reddit community has also amassed interesting theories regarding Kate’s whereabouts.
“Did she have a nervous breakdown?” a user asked.
Some Redditors point to the inconsistencies of the princess doing photo ops after giving birth, yet completely vanishing after the mysterious surgery
Of all the “Where is Kate Middleton?” conspiracy theories, “she’s Banksy” is my favorite
— Cooper Lawrence (@CooperLawrence) February 28, 2024
Other people speculated the princess had undergone an abdominal hysterectomy, a procedure which can take up to six weeks to recover from, according to Better Health Channel.
Safe to say Kate’s disappearance from the public has alarmed many people, including those who weren’t particularly fans of the British royal family.
“I’m thoroughly enjoying all the Kate Middleton conspiracy theories,” a person wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). “I have no interest in the royals, but the story about her recovering from donating a kidney to Charles in exchange for becoming queen one day is sending me.”
Other people have been speculating that she was getting a divorce from Prince William
Streets saying kate middleton is now a runaway princess??
— cami ☆ (@womensfilms) February 28, 2024
Another X user wrote: “I have fallen down the Where is Kate Middleton rabbit hole, and I need someone to come take me out immediately. It’s wild down here.”
Additionally, memes embodying the eerie situations have been flooding social media.
Princess Kate’s vanishing act prompted a flood of memes as the mystery deepened
I know where Kate Middleton is… this happens to a lot of Brits oddly enough. pic.twitter.com/xuryVonjun
— David Vineyard 🏴☠️ (@DavidVineyard9) February 28, 2024
Me crashing the next royal press conference looking for Kate Middleton knowing that she staged a disappearance for attention pic.twitter.com/yaoR9gYg2u
— girth of a nation (@BelieveinJojo) February 28, 2024
When “Kate Middleton” makes her next public appearance pic.twitter.com/DjdrYxcRQM
— Ira (@iramadisonthree) February 28, 2024
The hashtag #WhereIsKate has been trending on social media
Kate Middleton’s real name is Carmen Sandiego and that’s why you’ll never find her pic.twitter.com/NVTPJeVr9M
— ikanread (@ikanread) February 28, 2024
Palace officials when asked where Kate Middleton is pic.twitter.com/Okumm4sFo7
— Dylan / દિલન (@dylan_patel) February 28, 2024
When King Charles closes his eyes and whispers “I know where Kate Middleton is” on his last breath and leaves us on a cliffhanger pic.twitter.com/GNuPd13tW7
— Reid (@ReidZura) February 28, 2024
People have admitted to having fallen down the “Where is Kate Middleton rabbit hole”
Kate Middleton when she returns and reveals her buccal fat removal results pic.twitter.com/NU2RdCokG4
— Tara Gráinne Ní Chonghaile (@TaraGrace_) February 28, 2024
Huge if true. pic.twitter.com/HmDUyDttmR
— No Context Brits (@NoContextBrits) February 27, 2024
I went from responding “I don’t give a fuck about Kate Middleton” in a group text to being extremely invested in her whereabouts in about 3 minutes
— Ira (@iramadisonthree) February 27, 2024
From having a nervous breakdown to getting a BBL (Brazilian Butt Lift) surgery, the theories have kept on growing
it’s okay everyone, I’ve figured out where Kate Middleton is pic.twitter.com/llb9zFTCVw
— Janel Comeau (@VeryBadLlama) February 28, 2024
I’m thoroughly enjoying all the Kate Middleton conspiracy theories. I have no interest in the royals but the story about her recovering from donating a kidney to Charles in exchange for becoming queen one day is sending me.
— Morello (@Swazi_Cheri) February 27, 2024
only one person can figure out what’s happening with kate middleton pic.twitter.com/H68f1nBmG8
— diyani 🧚🏽♀️ (@gibb0ngirl) February 27, 2024
The princess’ “planned” surgery was deemed inconsistent with the fact that she had “events on her calendar that were then canceled”
I have fallen down the Where is Kate Middleton rabbit hole and I need someone to come take me out immediately. It’s wild down here.
— Madiha (@MadihaBlob) February 27, 2024
How are we all expected to “work” when we don’t even know where Kate Middleton is pic.twitter.com/YM5KhTXNdp
— Sam Stryker (@sbstryker) February 27, 2024
As of February 28, the princess has not been seen publicly since her surgery took place in January. Her last public appearance was on Christmas Day last year when the royal family walked to church, Town & Country reported.