After months of hiding following her shocking surgery in January, Princess Kate was photographed three times in a single week in early March. However, rather than reassuring her supporters, the two blurry photos of her riding in cars and one posed portrait with her children, which she was quickly forced to admit she photoshopped, combined with Prince William's abrupt withdrawal from a royal family memorial service in February and the palace's cagey statements, "have sparked wild speculation."
“Everything from botched plastic surgery to the deployment of secret body doubles has been mentioned as the mystery surrounding her disappearance escalates,” an unnamed tipster told Life & Style.
One theory, in particular, has taken root. “There’s fear that William and Kate’s marriage is in crisis,” an informant claimed. While the embattled Princess of Wales suffers through an extremely difficult recovery, new whispers of her husband’s cheating are circulating – all on the eve of the 13th anniversary of their fairy-tale wedding on April 29.
“Kate has gone so far as to take her ring off. It’s all anyone can talk about, and it has palace insiders openly pondering the unthinkable – that the marriage may be over,” the source stated.
At first, Prince William was praised for supporting his wife during her recovery. “But suddenly everyone was wondering if Kate’s prolonged absence from the public eye was somehow related to Rose Hanbury,” a spy told the tabloid of the married Marchioness of Cholmondeley, who was first linked to Prince William in 2019 in what was described as an “open secret” in British aristocratic circles.
Prince William's lawyers denied the rumors, describing them as false and extremely damaging. “Of course, they’ve been through all of this before, but Kate is at her most vulnerable right now, so it’s especially humiliating for her to have the talk of infidelity come back to haunt her,” an insider said.
For years, Prince William and Kate Middleton have largely ignored the speculation. Rose has continued to attend official events, including Queen Elizabeth's funeral and King Charles' coronation, thanks to her husband's royal connections. Last year, Princess Kate attended a music festival at Houghton Hall, the Cholmondeley family's ancestral estate in Norfolk, England.
“It seems like Kate has made an effort to signify that there was no truth to the rumors, but ite obviously hasn’t helped. And at some point, enough is enough,” the source said.
Prince William's late mother certainly felt the same way. Princess Diana, who famously stated that there were three of them in her marriage to King Charles, turned a blind eye as the monarch continued his relationship with Queen Camilla for more than ten years, finally separating from the former Princess of Wales in 1992.
Prince William and Princess Kate's marriage has never been so public, but the increased scrutiny couldn't have come at a worse time. “Between Prince Andrew’s fall from grace and Charles’ battle with cancer, the royal family seems to be falling apart,” an informant stated.
While three of the late Queen Elizabeth's four children have divorced, legal splits are uncommon among heirs to the throne. “Taking such as drastic step would be a historic action. They would probably need to discuss it with the king first, just out of protocol. And the royal family would take a major hit. Like Diana, Kate is their shining star, and the public most likely would be on her side.”
Princess Kate has dedicated her entire adult life to the Firm. "She and William have been togther for nearly 25 years," the informant stated of the one-time commoner, who was famously mocked as "Waity Katie" in the press because she dated William for 10 years on and off before he proposed.
“Since then, she’s been a model princess and unfailingly loyal to the monarchy. But it’s possible they’ve fallen out of love, which can certainly happen to couples who get better when they’re young. People change,” the same insider added.
Whatever happens, Princess Kate’s priority will always be her kids. “If the worst happened, she’d make sure to protect them – and her title,” the naysayer said, adding that by U.K. law, she would likely be entitled to half of Prince William’s $100 million fortune. He also profits from the $1.2 billion Duchy of Cornwall, though it technically belongs to the crown.
Custody of Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis would be tricky. “It would absolutely have to be shared because the children are heirs to the throne of England,” the source said. Judging by Princess Diana’s experience, Princess Kate would reportedly be constantly watched and under the palace’s control.
Still, divorce is the worst-case scenario. “The palace – and William – will do everything in their power to keep this marriage together. The speculation alone has been a nightmare,” the insider went on.
While Prince William and Princess Kate may face some challenges in their marriage, these divorce rumors remain unsubstantiated up to this writing. A former royal courtier even told The Daily Beast the rumors are “deeply annoying and unhelpful for the palace, but it’s not surprising that the affair rumors are being reheated. What else are people supposed to think when she sends out a photo not wearing her wedding ring?”
Rose Hanbury’s lawyers also told Business Insider that all the reports about Prince William cheating on Princess Kate with the marchioness are completely false. Most of the "evidence" people are pointing to is pure speculation, and importantly, Prince William and Princess Kate have made several appearances since Kate's "disappearance."
Not only were they seen driving in a car together, but The Sun also reported that Prince William and Princess Kate were spotted at a farm shop over the weekend of March 15.
Meanwhile, Prince William referred to Princess Kate as "my wife" during a public appearance on March 14, which seems unusual given that they are in the midst of a divorce. So, avid Prince and Princess of Wales followers should take all these unfounded claims with a grain of salt until everything is proven true and correct.
