Kate Middleton's announcement about her cancer diagnosis on Friday sparked an immediate uproar over the conspiracy theories that have surrounded the Princess of Wales in recent weeks.
"Kate Middleton has cancer. Now let's leave her the f*** alone," social media user Gary Mitchell said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
The princess confirmed in a Friday video that she has been undergoing chemotherapy treatment and described the past few months as "incredibly tough" for her "entire family."
The mystery surrounding Middleton's whereabouts fueled dozens of conspiracy theories about what had happened to the princess after she underwent planned abdominal surgery in mid-January. The controversy only worsened after she posted a photoshopped picture of her and her children on Mother's Day earlier this month.
"Kate Middleton forced into telling the world that she has cancer by the media. Disgusting," former boxer Carl Frampton wrote on X.
"I really hope the whole world is happy with for how they've treated Princess Kate," Kayla Adams said online. "Pretty much forcing her to prove she's alive, into confirming her diagnosis and coming up with disgusting conspiracy theories...she's not complained even once."
The princess, who has not appeared at any official public engagements since her surgery, sparked a public frenzy over her health since disappearing from the spotlight. This week, it was reported that staffers at The London Clinic, where Kate was treated, had tried to access her medical records and that three employees were suspended following the alleged data breach.
"Kate Middleton had major abdominal surgery and is now being treated for cancer. Time for some to take a long hard look in the mirror," author AJ West tweeted. "Get well soon #KateMiddleton"
"Is everyone who non stopped speculated about #KateMiddleton happy to hear that she was diagnosed with cancer??? Shame on anyone who made up lies or conspiracy theories," another X user added.
"Hope all the people who have published nonsense about Princess Kate feel bad now. Absolute idiots," Luke Sheekey wrote.
The various conspiracies surrounding Middleton were also fueled by a photo that the princess posted to her public accounts for Mother's Day in the United Kingdom. The image, which was recalled by several international news agencies, prompted her to apologize for "any confusion" caused by it.
In a statement, she said, "Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused."
As the conspiracies spread, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby criticized the speculation, saying that people with health concerns should be allowed "to live their lives in peace."
In an interview with Times Radio, Welby said, "We are obsessed with conspiracy and we have little sense of the humanity of those who are caught in the glare of the news."
"It's extremely unhealthy. It's just old-fashioned village gossip that can now go round the world in seconds. We have to turn away from that. Gossiping in that way is wrong."
Others, including those who admitted to engaging in conspiracies about the princess, agreed that it was wrong to have done so following the news of Middleton's cancer diagnosis.
"As we learn that Kate Middleton has cancer, it should serve as a lesson to all of us about the reality of being a woman on the internet, the complete lack of empathy and understanding in this space we all inhabit," Swedish journalist Annika Rothstein said on X.
"I feel for her and her family, and I feel guilty as f*** for caring more about memes and conspiracy theories than I did the reason behind her desperate need for privacy. I pray for her full and swift recovery."
"It was funny at first but now we've found out she's got cancer AND has been going through chemo. I feel so bad now," another X user wrote.
Update 03/22/24, 2:54 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Katherine Fung is a Newsweek reporter based in New York City. Her focus is reporting on U.S. and world politics. ... Read more
