#KateGate conspiracy theories go mainstream, with ‘normal’ people questioning reality

Conspiracy theories about Kate Middleton’s health are no longer contained to the social media feeds of ‘weirdos’, but are being obsessed over by ‘normal’ people, writes Julie Cross.

Opinion

This week the Katespiracies reached stratospheric levels, with not just the ‘weirdo’ brigade questioning a video of the Princess of Wales, but even what I would call ‘normal’ people.

Being a journalist – and English – I have been asked this week by completely sane (or so I thought) people, where the missing Princess of Wales really is? The answer, ‘at home recovering from abdominal surgery’, in line with Kensington Palace’s statement in January, doesn’t seem to do it for them.

Her last official appearance: Catherine, Princess of Wales attends the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on December 25, 2023 in Sandringham, Norfolk. Picture: Getty Images

One colleague is in a What’s App group, made up of a combination of stay-at-home mums and high flying professionals obsessed with finding out what has happened to Kate, with frenetically typed messages flying back and forth day and night.

They’re convinced, like the BBC sports reporter Sonja McLaughlan, and possibly millions of others, that the woman in the video taken by a member of the public walking alongside Prince William, is a body double – or perhaps both are body doubles?

According to my colleague her friends are “feasting like crazy things”, on what those on social media are dubbing #KateGate.

Meanwhile, she’s battling to be the voice of reason, pointing out that their information comes from disreputable sources, so-called internet sleuths, or maybe even Russian bots.

A Sky UK poll found half of Brits have read about the conspiracy theories surrounding Kate, who went in for planned surgery mid January, and is not due to return to public duties until after Easter.

For those who don’t know, online theories about why Kate has not been seen include ludicrous suggestions that she’s dead or in a coma, to hurtful slurs, that her marriage is in trouble or she’s had botched cosmetic surgery – or even a Brazilian Bum Lift – although that one may be a joke?

I hope that Kate is not forced to appear in public before she is ready, but when she does, I hope a new hashtag takes off online. How about, #SorryKateWeHaveBeenIdiots? I’m sure you can all come up with a few yourselves.

Originally published as #KateGate conspiracy theories go mainstream, with ‘normal’ people questioning reality