After Princess Catherine of Wales recently announced that she was battling a health issue, fans began responding to the news on social media. While there were some fans who expressed genuine care and concern for the princess, there were others who developed their own theories about what is going on within the royal family.
SANDRINGHAM, NORFOLK – DECEMBER 25: Catherine, Princess of Wales attends the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2023 in Sandringham, Norfolk. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Princess Catherine at the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2023 in Sandringham, Norfolk.
Princess Catherine recently announced that she had been battling a cancer diagnosis after being notably absent from the public eye since January. The princess asked for privacy as she dealth with this challenge. The public’s reaction to this news has been a mixture of compassion, speculation, and some suspicion, leading to a series of rumors about the state of her marriage to Prince William.
Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales (L) and Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales attend “The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance” ceremony at Royal Albert Hall, in London, on November 11, 2023 as part of the Remembrance Day commemorating the end of World War I. (Photo by Chris Jackson / POOL / AFP) (Photo by CHRIS JACKSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Princess Catherine and Prince William at the „The Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance” ceremony at Royal Albert Hall, in London, on November 11, 2023
MORAY, SCOTLAND – NOVEMBER 02: William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland, visit to Outfit Moray, an award-winning charity delivering life-changing outdoor learning and adventure activity programmes to young people on November 02, 2023 in Moray, Scotland. Prince William, Duke of Rothesay and Catherine, Duchess of Rothesay are visiting Scotland to meet organisations supporting rural communities and those working provide mental health support to young people through access to the outdoors and practical learning. (Photo by Jane Barlow – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Princess Catherine and Prince William at Outfit Moray, an award-winning charity in Moray, Scotland on November 02, 2023
MARLOW, UNITED KINGDOM – OCTOBER 12: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales attend a SportsAid mental fitness workshop at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre to mark World Mental Health Day on October 12, 2023 in Marlow, England. The Prince and Princess of Wales are carrying out engagements across the UK to mark World Mental Health Day and to highlight the importance of mental wellbeing, particularly in young people. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Princess Catherine and Prince William at the SportsAid mental fitness workshop at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre to mark World Mental Health Day on October 12, 2023
MARLOW, UNITED KINGDOM – OCTOBER 12: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales attend a SportsAid mental fitness workshop at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre to mark World Mental Health Day on October 12, 2023 in Marlow, England. The Prince and Princess of Wales are carrying out engagements across the UK to mark World Mental Health Day and to highlight the importance of mental wellbeing, particularly in young people. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Princess Catherine and Prince William at the SportsAid mental fitness workshop at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre to mark World Mental Health Day on October 12, 2023
Social media has been particularly abuzz with chatter, where one tweet starkly stated, „Now I know they’re getting a divorce. they’re probably already separated on paper.” The absence of Prince William at Princess Catherine’s side during the announcement seemed to strike a chord with the public.
CARDIFF, WALES – OCTOBER 03: Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales visits Fitzalan High School as she celebrates the beginning of Black History Month on October 03, 2023 in Cardiff, Wales. In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush, the Prince and Princess of Wales will hear from pupils about the work they have been doing around black history. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Princess Catherine and Prince William at the Grange Pavilion to celebrate the beginning of Black History Month on October 03, 2023.
CARDIFF, WALES – OCTOBER 03: Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales visits Fitzalan High School as she celebrates the beginning of Black History Month on October 03, 2023 in Cardiff, Wales. In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush, the Prince and Princess of Wales will hear from pupils about the work they have been doing around black history. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Princess Catherine and Prince William at the Grange Pavilion to celebrate the beginning of Black History Month on October 03, 2023.
The royal family has been accused of withholding the truth, with comments about the situation ranging from concern to outright disbelief. Responses to the initial tweet echoed these sentiments, with phrases like „Kate had marital problems” and „valid point” surfacing amongst the conversation.
CARDIFF, WALES – OCTOBER 3: Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales visit the Grange Pavilion to celebrate the beginning of Black History Month on October 3, 2023 in Cardiff, Wales. In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush, the Prince and Princess of Wales are meeting members of the Windrush generation in Cardiff. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
Princess Catherine and Prince William at the Grange Pavilion to celebrate the beginning of Black History Month on October 03, 2023.
ST DAVIDS, UNITED KINGDOM – SEPTEMBER 08: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales attend a service to commemorate the life of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at St Davids Cathedral on September 8, 2023 in St Davids, Wales. Queen Elizabeth II passed away at her Balmoral Castle, her private Scottish residence, on September 8th 2022. This brought to an end her 70-year reign, the longest of a British monarch. Her funeral was held at Westminster Abbey on 19 September and she is buried in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Princess Catherine and Prince William at a a service to commemorate the life of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at St Davids Cathedral on September 8, 2023 in St Davids, Wales.
WHISTLER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – FEBRUARY 15: (L-R) Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend Invictus Games Vancouver Whistlers 2025’s One Year To Go Winter Training Camp on February 15, 2024 in Whistler, British Columbia. (Photo by Andrew Chin/Getty Images)
The conjecture took a personal turn when individuals contrasted the behavior of Prince William with that of his brother, Harry. Observers pointed out that if Meghan Markle were in a similar situation, Harry would likely be right there, offering his hand for her to hold. The debate grew as people shared their observations, „it’s weird” that William was not by her side, which they believe most husbands would be in such circumstances.
ST DAVIDS, WALES – SEPTEMBER 08: Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales visit St Davids Cathedral for a service to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, on September 08, 2023 in St Davids, United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth II passed away at Balmoral Castle, her private Scottish residence, on September 8th 2022. This brought to an end her 70-year reign, the longest of a British monarch. Her funeral was held at Westminster Abbey on 19 September and she is buried in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Princess Catherine and Prince William at a a service to commemorate the life of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at St Davids Cathedral on September 8, 2023 in St Davids, Wales.
These online discussions quickly escalated as the public attempted to piece together the narrative, with another individual stating, that if Princess Catherine was well enough to sit down to give a statement about her health, she must also be well enough to sit down to take a photo with her husband. The commenter concluded that the entire statement was a facade for something else.
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 05: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) (L-R) Queen Camilla, King Charles III, Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales pose for a photograph ahead of The Diplomatic Reception in the 1844 Room at Buckingham Palace on December 05, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images For Buckingham Palace)
King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Princess Catherine before the The Diplomatic Reception in the 1844 Room at Buckingham Palace on December 05, 2023 in London, England.
Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales and Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales attend the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London on November 30, 2023. The Royal Variety Performance takes place every year, either in London or in a theatre around the United Kingdom. The event is in aid of the Royal Variety Charity, which supports members of the entertainment industry with a nationwide grants scheme, to help those who’ve worked professionally in the entertainment industry during this very difficult economic climate. (Photo by Aaron Chown / POOL / AFP) (Photo by AARON CHOWN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Princess Catherine and Prince William at the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London on November 30, 2023.
The X conversation was sparked after a CNN video surfaced showing a doctor talking about Princess Catherine’s condition. Anderson Cooper, conducting the interview with the doctor, asked how it was possible for Princess Catherine to get a cancer diagnosis after undergoing surgery.
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 30: Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales attend The Royal Variety Performance 2023 at Royal Albert Hall on November 30, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Ricky Vigil M / Justin E Palmer/GC Images)
Princess Catherine and Prince William at the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London on November 30, 2023.
The doctor began by saying that the press release „doesn’t make a lot of medical sense,” saying that when someone goes in for a major surgery, such as the surgery Princess Catherine underwent in January, they typically didn’t go back under the knife for „exploratory surgery.”
