In the wake of the #WhereIsKate frenzy that erupted on social media last week, a grainy photo of Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, is likely the royal family’s attempt to quell the speculation, at least for the time being. The snapshot, which emerged on Monday, surely seems to be a timely coincidence to many.
The captured image shows Kate Middleton, donning a pair of dark sunglasses, in the passenger seat of a car driven by her mother, Carole Middleton. The photo, which can be viewed below, was reportedly taken near Windsor Castle. This constitutes the first public sight of the royal since December 25, 2023, according to TMZ. They also found it odd that there were no other family members or security personnel nearby, a scenario that would be unusual if the mother-daughter duo were leaving Windsor grounds.
Notably, the photo was credited to Backgrid, a news photo agency known for allegedly collaborating with celebrities to stage photos. Considering the two-month-long predicament the royal family has been engulfed in, this seems like an attempt at a “proof of life photo” to some fans. Likewise, social media has been buzzing with various opinions. One Twitter user, for example, pointed out the coincidence, tweeting: “Patiently waiting for the people who claim that Meghan Markle calls the paps on herself to do the same about Kate Middleton finally being seen via a photo by BACKGRID, coincidentally after the public created conspiracy theories. Seems her PR team is paying attention.”
The royal family, unfortunately, has an uphill battle to win this PR war, as the silence went on for over two months before any effort was made to intervene. In the eyes of many, the train has long left the station. It is hoped that Kate wasn’t reluctantly pulled out for a photo call and instead had a genuine need to be out on the sunny U.K. day. Hopefully, her recovery from her abdominal surgery has been peaceful, and future updates on her condition can be shared via personal statements instead.
Prince William and Kate chose to abide by Queen Elizabeth’s adage of “Never complain, never explain,” which didn’t seem to work in this situation. With King Charles III battling his own health issues quite openly, it seems imperative for both palaces to align their approaches. As one former palace aide shared with The Telegraph, “At the moment, one palace never explains, the other is always explaining.”
In summary, no matter the intentions or reasoning behind the photo, it certainly sparked conversation and speculation. It remains to be seen how the royal family will manage the ongoing PR challenges and health updates in the future.
Before you go, you might want to take a look at some of Kate Middleton’s best hair looks as a royal here. Head to HitPlay for more interesting content about celebrities and entertainment. Wrapping up, we wish Kate a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing more of the royal family in the times to come.
