Topline
TMZ and The Sun published a video that appears to show Prince William and his wife Kate out shopping as speculation over her whereabouts hit a fever pitch—but Kensington Palace has yet to comment on the video’s authenticity, as theories and conspiracies run rampant on social media.
Kate's whereabouts have sparked wide social media speculation. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Key Facts
Hours after publishing claims that Kate was spotted at the Windsor Farm Shop, U.K. tabloid The Sun shared a video that appears to show Kate and William at the store.
The Sun said onlooker Nelson Silva captured the video, and he reportedly said Kate looked “happy and relaxed.”
TMZ claimed it verified the video was taken over the weekend by looking at its metadata, but The Washington Post said it could not confirm the exact date the video was shot.
Kensington Palace has not confirmed or denied the veracity of the video, or whether William and Kate were present at Windsor Farm Shop this weekend (Forbes has reached out to Kensington Palace for comment).
In several viral posts, social media users questioned the authenticity of the video—including Bravo television host Andy Cohen, who tweeted: “That ain’t Kate….” (Cohen also asked his 5.5 million Instagram followers through a poll if they think it is actually Kate in the video—and 73% voted “no”).
The video caused a surge in interest in Kate’s whereabouts, with a significant spike in Google searches for the Princess of Wales after it was published Monday afternoon.
Key Background
Kate has not undertaken any public engagements since Christmas, as Kensington Palace has said she is recovering from abdominal surgery. Few photos of the Princess of Wales have been released in recent weeks, all of which have failed to dim public speculation over Kate’s health. Kensington Palace released an image of Kate and her children on March 10 for Mother’s Day, but the Associated Press and other news outlets soon retracted the picture over suspicion it was digitally manipulated. The next day, the palace issued a statement signed by Kate that she had edited the image herself and offered an apology for confusion the picture caused. Several news outlets published pictures of Kate wearing sunglasses in a car on March 4, and one week later, the Daily Mail published another photograph of Kate in a car, though her face is turned away from the camera. In both pictures, the quality is low and Kate’s face is obscured. The royal family again faced heat for edited photos on Tuesday: Getty Images said a picture, credited to Kate, of the late Queen Elizabeth II with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren was “digitally enhanced.”
Contra
Kensington Palace has maintained in public statements that Kate is doing well in her recovery, and the palace has seldom responded to the rumors that capture the public’s imagination. The palace said Kate returned home following her hospital stay on Jan. 29 and was making “good progress.” The royal family again said Kate was doing well after speculation over her health grew after William pulled out of attending a memorial service for a “personal matter.” Kensington Palace has not addressed many of the rumors about Kate that have circulated, but the royal family reportedly dismissed one claim by Spanish journalist Concha Calleja that Kate was in a coma, reportedly calling the theory “total nonsense” and “ludicrous.”
Surprising Fact
Heidi Agan, who calls herself the U.K.’s “most realistic Kate Middleton lookalike,” denied she was actually the person in the video after her social media was flooded with comments. Agan has made an income off of making appearances at parties and other engagements dressed as Kate since 2012.
Further Reading
Kate Middleton’s Public Disappearance Timeline: New Photo Called ‘Digitally Enhanced’ (Forbes)
Another Royal Family Photo Scandal: Second Picture Slammed By News Agency As ‘Digitally Enhanced’ (Forbes)
Why a New Video of Kate Middleton Isn’t Quelling Concerns (TIME)
