The United Kingdom continues to question the health of the wife of the heir to the crown. A first photo of Princess Kate since her hospitalization, then the confusion surrounding her announced presence at an official event in June, did not in fact dispel the questions on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Defense first announced its presence on June 8 at one of the parades celebrating the king’s official birthday. Kensington Palace, which is responsible for making the Princess and Prince William’s agenda public, has not confirmed. Mention of his presence at the event was later removed from the army website page dedicated to the event.
A withdrawal that revives speculation
Last week, Prince William gave up at the last moment to attend a ceremony in memory of his godfather, King Constantine of Greece, for “a personal reason”. This unusual withdrawal has fueled fanciful allegations and real concerns on social networks, in the absence of the 42-year-old princess for more than two months.
A photo published Monday evening by American media shows the princess, her face hidden by dark glasses, in a car driven by her mother, near Windsor Castle where she lives with Prince William and their three children.
The British press, which adores the Princess of Wales and the couple she forms with William, did not publish the photo, Kensington Palace having asked to respect their privacy during Kate’s convalescence. But “there are already conspiracy theories that say the photo was doctored (…) instead of putting an end to the rumors, this photo – which was clearly unauthorized – generated even more speculation”, according to Joe Little , editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine.
On January 17, the palace announced that the Princess of Wales had undergone a “scheduled” abdominal operation at the London Clinic, and would be recovering at least until Easter on March 31. His last public appearance was at the royal family’s Christmas mass at Sandringham. No details were given about his operation, prompting questions.
A different communication for the king
Last weekend, Kensington Palace tried to calm things down: “We made it clear at the beginning of January that the Princess of Wales planned to withdraw from her public commitments until after Easter, and that has not changed” .
The rumors show how difficult it is to keep the royal family’s health problems confidential. “This is a thorny issue”, underlines Joe Little, because of “the immense public interest”. And not all members of the House of Windsor are on the same page. The unfailing discretion that Kate and William cultivate contrasts with Buckingham’s communication on the cancer of King Charles III, who appeared again on Tuesday in a photo, receiving the Minister of Finance Jeremy Hunt.