On March 22, Kate Middleton rocked the world with the news that she had cancer and was stepping out of the limelight while she sought treatment. The video of her sitting on a bench and explaining her medical diagnosis came weeks after social media went into a frenzy looking for her. She had taken some time off after abdominal surgery earlier in the year, but the palace’s vague statement set the rumor mill ablaze.
Even though the Princess of Wales has given everyone the information they needed to let her heal in privacy, social media has started a second wave of gossip, questioning where she is and why she hasn’t been seen in public. It seems that her March words weren’t enough for some royal conspiracy theorists: “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.”
The trending list of topics on X has continually shown the hashtag, “#WhereIsKate,” for the last week because people seem to think she should be giving photo updates of her recovery. Even worse, other social media users are speculating that something more sinister has happened to her. Haven’t we done this already? Didn’t we learn our lesson? It’s fair to question why some royals haven’t stepped up to do more public engagements in the wake of Kate and King Charles III’s health crises, but the pretty horrific rumors circulating don’t help the situation.
