Speculation continues to mount regarding the public absence of Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales. Since her last formal appearance at Christmas, she has not been seen publicly, following a reported abdominal surgery. Unconfirmed claims have emerged, suggesting that the BBC has been put on alert for a potential announcement from the Royal Family. However, these claims remain unverified by all key parties involved.
Social media has been abuzz with rumors that the BBC, the UK’s public broadcaster, is on standby for a significant announcement from the Royals. Despite the widespread circulation of these claims, the BBC has not made any public statements to confirm or deny them. Additionally, the broadcaster has not responded to inquiries from Forbes regarding any potential Royal announcements.
Historically, Buckingham Palace has been known to give select media outlets a heads-up before major announcements. For instance, before the announcement of King Charles’ cancer diagnosis in February, some reporters were reportedly informed in advance.
Kate Middleton’s extended absence from public duties has fueled online speculation about her health and whereabouts. On January 17, Kensington Palace announced that Kate had undergone abdominal surgery and, based on medical advice, was unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter. This announcement led to various theories about her condition, which intensified when the Royal Family released a photo for Mother’s Day.
On March 10, Kensington Palace shared a photo of Kate with her three children, taken by Prince William. The image quickly became a topic of controversy, with social media users claiming it was digitally altered. The Associated Press and other news outlets retracted the image, stating it did not meet their photo standards. In response, Kensington Palace issued a statement from Kate, apologizing and explaining that she was an amateur photographer experimenting with editing.
This series of events led to further unconfirmed claims, including rumors that Kate was in a coma and that Prince William was having an affair. The Palace reportedly dismissed these theories as “ludicrous.”
In a surprising turn, Agence France-Presse informed the BBC that Kensington Palace was no longer considered a “trusted source” after releasing the edited photo. Phil Chetwynd, AFP’s global news director, described the decision to issue a “kill notice” for the photo as a significant move, typically reserved for propaganda from countries like North Korea or Iran.
Unnamed sources familiar with the couple’s thinking told The Times of London that Kate’s recovery might be discussed in the future. They did not specify when this discussion might occur but clarified that the reference to an Easter return in the Palace’s announcement referred to the children’s school holidays, not Easter weekend itself. The couple’s children are expected to return to school on April 17.
According to sources close to the Royal Family, Kate Middleton is unlikely to resume her royal duties soon after undergoing cancer treatment. She had previously announced that she was in the early stages of preventative chemotherapy. A US news portal reported that Kate might not return to her royal duties, with US Weekly stating she “may never come back in the role that people saw her in before.”
Once a prominent figure at royal engagements alongside Prince William, Kate is currently reevaluating what she can take on when she returns. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams noted that Kate’s return to royal duties would be based on medical advice and carefully balanced.
Reports from weeks earlier suggested that Kate might not appear publicly as a working royal for the rest of the year. A source told The Daily Beast that Kate’s schedule was empty, with no public appearances planned. The insider also mentioned the possibility of another video message updating the public on Kate’s health status.
Meanwhile, Prince William has reassured well-wishers about his wife’s well-being during recent engagements. A Kensington Palace spokesperson previously stated that Kate’s return to public duties depends on clearance from her medical team.
In March, royal fans had hoped for Kate’s return to the public eye. However, her cancer diagnosis and treatment announcement dashed those hopes. Last week, British tabloid The Sun published photos and video of Kate and William at a local farm stand in Windsor, taken on March 16. The footage showed the couple smiling and carrying grocery bags, appearing normal and unassuming.
In January, Kensington Palace had stated that Kate was unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter. Recent reports suggest that “after Easter” could mean after the children’s Easter break ends on April 17, with no official return date set for Kate.
