The 'Kate Middleton Is Missing' Conspiracy Theory, Explained

Kate Middleton. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

Conspiracy theories, jokes and memes regarding the whereabouts of Kate Middleton have reached a fever pitch on social media, as the Princess of Wales has not been seen in public since Christmas Day, and the internet has grown curious.

While speculation has been growing in gossipy corners of the internet for some time, the conspiracy theories and memes hit the mainstream after news broke that Middleton’s husband, Prince William, would not be attending a memorial service for King Constantine of Greece, due to a “personal matter.”

Gossipy social media commentators connected the Prince’s mysterious “personal matter” to the Princess seemingly vanishing from public life.

In January, Kensington Palace announced that Middleton had undergone abdominal surgery and was returning home after a stay in hospital. The surgery was reportedly a success, but the Palace noted that Middleton would not be able to return to public duties until after Easter, and wanted to keep her medical status private.

When it comes to the Royal Family, however, privacy only sparks frenzied speculation, and royalists quickly noted that even the British tabloids hadn’t been able to snap a photo of Middleton since her hospital stay.

Rumors began to take off after Spanish TV host Concha Calleja claimed that the Princess had been put in a medically induced coma due to surgical complications, citing an anonymous source within the royal household.

The Palace has aggressively pushed back against the claim, describing Calleja‘s coma story as “total nonsense.”

That hasn’t stopped the internet from taking an interest, and running wild with conspiracy theories.

There’s several, actually, ranging from sinister cover-ups, to absurd speculations.

Rumors have surrounded the Prince and Princess for some time, online whispers of a troubled marriage, impending divorce, even speculation that Prince William has been having an affair.

Some have even suggested domestic violence, citing rumors of Prince William’s “short temper", along with a claim Prince Harry made in his autobiography, Spare, that an altercation between him and his brother had turned physical.

On Reddit, one commentator broke down the rumors and noted how unusual it was that there had been no recent photos of Middleton, writing: “This is the same woman who was doing a photo op in full hair/makeup holding her newborn within 24 hours of each of her children's births.”

The commentator went on to highlight how King Charles has recently been diagnosed with cancer, but had not disappeared from public life.

The same commentator also linked an article from British tabloid The Mirror claiming that Middleton was emotionally volatile, but has since been edited, with Kate Middleton’s name replaced by Prince Harry.

An editor's note clarifies that Middleton being the focus of the original story was made in error; online commentators weren’t sure what to make of the drastic change.

Other commentators have suggested that Middleton has been recovering from cosmetic surgery, with some jokingly suggesting a Brazilian buttock lift (BBL), or even that the Princess has gotten an unflattering haircut and is taking time to grow it out.

As the theories grew more wild, commentators had fun, jokingly suggesting that Middleton had escaped the confines of the Palace, run away with Pete Davidson, or had been spotted at the woefully disappointing Willy Wonka experience that went viral.

The “Kate is Missing” trend soon turned into a full-blown meme, with most of the commentators in on the joke.

The British Royal Family has been in the spotlight for the last few years, following the dramatic exit of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the death of the Queen, and the turbulent history of the family highlighted in popular Netflix drama The Crown.

These major moments in pop culture have drawn attention to the strange, secretive nature of the Royal Family, an archaic institution that seems to resemble Game of Thrones behind the scenes.

The contrast between the polished exterior of the Royal Family and the dark secrets that have fermented under the surface have surely ignited the imaginations of commentators and conspiracy theorists.

The reason for Kate Middleton’s prolonged absence might be melodramatic or mundane, but no one trusts the Palace to tell the truth.