Kensington Palace said on February 29, 2024, that Catherine, Princess of Wales, was “doing well” and would remain away from public duties until after Easter, repeating the timetable it had announced in January. It said it would provide updates only when something significant changed. The statement addressed online speculation; it did not confirm any of the theories circulating about her.
What Kensington Palace said on February 29
As questions about Catherine’s absence spread online, Kensington Palace reiterated its earlier guidance. The palace said: “We were very clear from the outset that the Princess of Wales was out until after Easter and Kensington Palace would only be providing updates when something was significant.” It also said she was “doing well.” BBC News reported the palace’s response on February 29, 2024.
The response was not a detailed medical update or an endorsement of online claims. It restated the expected period away from public duties and the palace’s approach to further announcements.
What the palace had announced in January
On January 17, Kensington Palace announced that Catherine had undergone planned abdominal surgery. The palace said she was expected to remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days, would not resume public duties until after Easter, and wished to maintain privacy. It described the surgery as not cancer-related. Read the January 17 statement from Kensington Palace.
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That wording reflected what the palace disclosed at the time. It should not be read as an announcement of the diagnosis Catherine later shared in March.
Why speculation grew
The palace had provided an expected timetable but limited medical detail, and Catherine made no public appearances during her recovery. Other royal health news and Prince William’s withdrawal from a memorial service also became part of the online discussion. The Guardian described a mix of jokes and unsupported claims, including claims about Catherine’s whereabouts and what the family might be concealing. Those claims were speculation, not verified facts. The Guardian’s February 28 report provides contemporaneous context.
Royal commentator Victoria Howard told the Guardian: “The length of Kate’s absence is unusual which suggests a significant procedure, but the lack of details is what is driving the rumor mill.” That was commentary about the reaction, not independent medical evidence.
What happened after the palace response
The Mother’s Day photograph
On March 10, Kensington Palace released a family photograph for UK Mother’s Day. The Associated Press and other news agencies withdrew it after concerns that it had been manipulated. AP said it withdrew the image “because at closer inspection, it appeared the source had manipulated the image in a way that did not meet AP’s photo standards.” The Associated Press reported the withdrawal.
On March 11, Catherine apologized for the confusion caused by the photograph and said she sometimes experimented with editing: “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. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day. C” CBS News reported her apology and the agencies’ withdrawals.
Catherine’s March 22 diagnosis announcement
On March 22, Catherine announced that cancer had been found after her surgery and that she was undergoing treatment. This was a later disclosure. The January statement’s description of the surgery as not cancer-related and the March announcement are separate points in the chronology; the palace had not publicly disclosed the later diagnosis in January. Read Catherine’s March 22 statement.
Later claims about the video
A subsequent wave of online claims alleged that the March 22 video was AI-generated. The Washington Post reported that BBC Studios filmed it at Windsor Castle. Kensington Palace called the AI-tampering claims factually inaccurate, and several forensic experts consulted by the newspaper found no signs of AI manipulation. This later dispute is distinct from the palace’s February response. The Washington Post reported on the video claims and expert assessments.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to understand the timeline
- January 17: The palace announced planned abdominal surgery, a 10-to-14-day expected hospital stay, privacy, and an absence from public duties until after Easter.
- February 29: The palace said Catherine was doing well and repeated that it would provide updates only when significant.
- March 10–11: Agencies withdrew the Mother’s Day photograph over manipulation concerns; Catherine apologized for confusion the next day.
- March 22: Catherine disclosed that cancer had been found after surgery and that she was receiving treatment.
- After March 22: Claims that the video was AI-generated were disputed by the palace and not supported by the forensic experts cited by The Washington Post.
For readers searching “Where is Kate Middleton?” or “Where is Catherine, Princess of Wales?”, the February answer was that she was recovering away from public duties under the timetable announced in January. The palace’s statement addressed her absence and its update policy; it did not validate the rumors.
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