Media reports have addressed the absence of the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, the wife of British heir Prince William, from public appearances since Christmas, indicating that this has sparked rumors and concerns about her health. On Christmas Day, Kate attended a service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, walking to the church with her husband and their three children. She has not appeared publicly since then, coinciding with her undergoing abdominal surgery and the subsequent recovery period.
Reports regarding the 42-year-old princess and her health intensified after Prince William apologized on Tuesday for missing the memorial service for his "spiritual father," the late King Constantine of Greece, at Windsor Castle, citing "unspecified personal reasons." According to a report by The New York Times, discussions about the princess's health prompted a palace source to attempt to address the developments and "perhaps stop the rumors." The source told People magazine that the princess is "in good condition."
The newspaper noted that the limited knowledge about her health has led to much speculation, concern, and conspiracy theories, suggesting that Kensington Palace's statement regarding Princess Kate's surgery was a "mystery to the public," as it only mentioned abdominal surgery without further specification, with the phrase potentially signifying many things.
The New York Times indicated that the lack of information regarding Princess Kate has resulted in speculation about her health status. It also mentioned claims by Spanish journalist Concha Calleja, who stated that a source within the royal family confirmed to her that the princess "suffered severe complications after the surgery, requiring lifesaving measures."
In its statement regarding the surgery, Kensington Palace confirmed that "there will be no updates concerning the princess's health unless new information arises." The palace also reacted to the claims from the Spanish journalist, dismissing them as "ridiculous and pure nonsense."
