As Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, continues to recuperate from her abdominal surgery earlier this year, both she and her husband, Prince William, are reportedly "fed up" with the intense media interest and speculation surrounding her health and whereabouts. Despite the growing "#Where'sKate" trend on social media, royal experts maintain that the future queen is "doing well" and that the couple believes they "have nothing to prove."
"My palace contacts have communicated with the princess but haven't seen her because she is technically off-duty to recover from a massive abdominal surgery," Kinsey Schofield, a royal and showbiz expert, told Fox News Digital. She explained that the princess's absence from public view is not unusual, likening it to a regular employee being out sick and not having colleagues visit them at home during their recovery.
Schofield emphasized that the Prince and Princess of Wales are "incredibly private" and that their objective is to allow Catherine time off until Easter, as stated by Kensington Palace following her surgery on January 16. "Nothing is alarming about keeping that circle small and secure until she is back to work. William and Kate believe that they have nothing to prove. Catherine's health is their number one priority," she added.
The princess's operation, deemed both "serious" and "major" at the time, required a 2-week hospital stay followed by over two months of at-home convalescence. Since then, the press and social media have become "obsessed" with her whereabouts, fueling various conspiracy theories about her health and the reasons behind her prolonged absence from public duties.
Kate was photographed in a grainy image in a car next to her mother, Carole Middleton, in early March. However, speculation about her "puffy face" and the Mother's Day photoshop debacle on March 10 only intensified the interest in the royal couple. Schofield dismissed the more alarming conspiracies, stating that "Catherine has been seen on school runs" and that "the entire neighborhood is very protective of her and her family right now."
Not all royal analysts agree with Schofield's measured approach, with some arguing that being the Prince and Princess of Wales comes with a certain level of responsibility to be seen by the public. Christopher Andersen, a royal author, acknowledged that while Kate and William feel entitled to complete privacy when it comes to medical issues, "the monarchy is an institution supported by the British taxpayer" and that "members of the royal family are living, breathing symbols of the state, as well as public servants."
Andersen noted that there are ways to handle such matters delicately without making the press and public feel they are being stonewalled. He also pointed out that Prince William has been attempting to keep up appearances by completing royal duties as his wife recovers, but the wall of silence created by the couple has been deafening.
"William seems to be sailing above it all, oblivious to the lurid chatter that has inevitably bubbled up regarding the state of his marriage," Andersen said. "He is making public appearances and delivering speeches without making any reference to what the entire world is an uproar about - Where the hell is the Princess of Wales? Why is she hiding? Why did she undergo major abdominal surgery? Why the clumsily doctored photograph? Why all the secrecy?"
The secrecy surrounding Kate Middleton's recovery has even extended to palace staff, with sources alleging that the princess has kept herself behind closed doors and only recently started opening up about her surgery to close confidants. This approach has led to a divide among royal experts, with some praising the couple's commitment to privacy and others questioning the lack of transparency.
As the speculation continues to swirl, the Prince and Princess of Wales remain steadfast in their belief that they have nothing to prove and that Kate's health is their top priority. While the wall of silence protecting the princess may be a testament to the love and support she receives from her family, friends, and staff, it has also fueled concerns and conspiracies among the public and the press.