Royal aides are planning for Kate Middleton, who had not been seen in public in 2024 until this week, to make a soft return to the public over Easter weekend, according to the Independent.
Palace officials have reportedly spoken to Middleton about walking to Easter Sunday mass with the royal family. The royal family attends St George’s Chapel, Windsor for services, according to The Times.
Middleton has been the center of conspiracy theories, fueled by her lack of public engagements since a mysterious abdominal surgery in January of this year.
Theories even suggested the recent video of Middleton walking with her husband, William, at a local farm shop was actually her professional body double, Heidi Agan.
“I know somebody that goes to school with her children,” she told Sky News. “I also have another contact in the area, and they have both said that they have seen her and that the neighborhood is fiercely protective of her.”
“They think that all this speculation is ridiculous and unfair, based on the information they have,” she continued. “They also told me once we all have the same information, we’re all going to feel incredibly guilty.”
“Disturbing that newspapers like @thetimes are reporting this as fact,” Sonja McLaughlan wrote in a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter). “Headline ‘Kate seen in public for the first time’ when it’s clearly not her. As someone said. Could be a couple of lookalikes making mischief.”
“It’s so obviously not Kate. Some newspaper are reporting it as fact. But it’s not her. No conspiracy theorist but all very odd,” she added, per The Telegraph.
McLaughlan’s post was later slammed by Nelson Silva, who captured the video of the Prince and Princess of Wales shopping at the Windsor Farm Shop shortly after watching their three children play sports.
BBC reporter Sonja McLaughlan has come under fire for alleging that the video of Kate Middleton and Prince William is fake. Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images
While the outlet reported Tuesday that Getty had labeled the July 2019 shot “digitally enhanced,” the photo agency clarified to Page Six that there were “no issues found” with the snap.
"Everyone at the London Clinic is acutely aware of our individual, professional, ethical and legal duties with regards to patient confidentiality," Russell said in a statement Wednesday.
"We take enormous pride in the outstanding care and discretion we aim to deliver for all our patients that put their trust in us every day."
The London Clinic, which one of the UK's largest independent hospitals, was opened by the Duke and Duchess of York in 1932. Universal Images Group via Getty Images
"We have systems in place to monitor management of patient information and, in the case of any breach, all appropriate investigatory, regulatory and disciplinary steps will be taken," he continued.
"There is no place at our hospital for those who intentionally breach the trust of any of our patients or colleagues."
The Princess of Wales, 42, is said to be aware of the allegations.
Kate Middleton’s two-week hospital stint is being thrust back into the spotlight after it was claimed that a staffer at the London Clinic allegedly breached her medical records.
The mom of three would have been under the watchful eye of dedicated doctors and nurses in her own private room during her stint at the clinic, which offers a personalized food menu, internet access and other amenities.
It’s considered to be one of the most high-end medical facilities, boasting state-of-the-art equipment and wards for surgeries in urology, gynecology, thoracic surgery, orthopedics and spinal procedures.
The famed UK hospital has launched an investigation after at least one staffer allegedly tried to access health information belonging to the Princess of Wales during her hospital stay.
Caulfield said it "would be very disappointing" if the investigation finds that there was indeed a breach.
"From a health perspective, it's not acceptable to be looking at people's notes, but it has been spotted and action has been taken, so people can be reassured," she told Sky News.
The allegations come as questions have engulfed the Royal Family over Middleton’s health after she was discharged from the hospital in January.
Middleton spent a total of 13 days at the London Clinic. AP
Early on Tuesday, the monarch, 75, hosted a handful of veterans to mark the 70th anniversary of the conflict, but bowed out before the evening's event.
The King's sister, Princess Anne, and the Duchess of Edinburgh took over the reins and hosted the event as the King headed back to his royal residence.
Charles explained that he was "disappointed and frustrated" in his absence, but is "most grateful to the Princess Royal and the Duchess of Edinburgh for standing in."
Rose Hanbury, 40, has been in the spotlight for resurfaced rumors that she had an affair with Prince William, 41 — which both parties have denied.
“I know people who know the Marchioness of Cholmondeley very, very well, and she absolutely was not having an affair with the Prince of Wales,” royal expert and editor-in-chief of True Royalty TV Nick Bullen told Us Weekly on Tuesday, referring to Hanbury’s title.
He added, “Even when those rumors broke a few years ago, she was very upset by them then. She’s still very upset by them now.”
Nelson Silva, the 40-year-old father who captured the video of Kate Middleton's first appearance in 2024, called conspiracy theorists "delusional" for continuing to suspect the worst, as reported by the Sun.
After the video was released, conspiracy theorists made claims that the woman who appeared to be Middleton was actually her professional body double, Heidi Agan.
Some claimed the video of Middleton appeared to be taller than Kate's actual frame, while others debated facial features.
This photo of Middleton, taken over the weekend at a farm stand, spurred questions online of whether it was even her. The Sun
These conspiracies had more than 12 million views on X and more than 11 million on TikTok in just under 24 hours.
“I’m not so much shocked that these comments have continued, I’m just confused how exactly they can continue," Silva said.
Heidi Agan has denied being the woman in the farm shop video. katemiddletonlookalike/Instagram
“This is a video clearly showing her and William. I saw them with my own eyes. It was a completely relaxed situation."
Middleton has not made any public appearances in 2024 following a successful abdominal surgery in January of this year. The video of her at the farm shop is the first time she has been in the public eye.
The famed UK hospital where Kate Middleton was treated earlier this year is investigating whether the royal’s private medical records were breached, according to a report.
At least one staffer at The London Clinic allegedly tried to access health information belonging to the Princess of Wales from her hospital stay, an insider told the Mirror on Tuesday.
The hospital contacted Kensington Palace right after officials became aware of the possible breach, the insider reportedly said. Raw Image LTD/MEGA
“This is a major security breach and incredibly damaging for the hospital, given its unblemished reputation for treating members of the Royal Family,” the insider told the UK newspaper.
The hospital contacted Kensington Palace right after officials became aware of the possible breach, the insider reportedly said.
Was she in hiding over marriage troubles? Were the health woes that caused her to disappear from public much worse than first believed? Has she been replaced by a body double?
Yet the biggest mystery of all, at least for Americans, is why Kensington Palace hasn’t shut down the speculation by being more honest.
Kate, 42, has been out of the public eye since January, when it was announced she’d had major abdominal surgery. At the time, the palace announced that the Princes of Wales would return to royal duties after Easter.
But she was hardly out of sight and out of mind, as doubters online immediately began guessing at the true nature of her condition and whether there might be more to it.
