Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, put an end to widespread speculation and rumors about her whereabouts by announcing in a recent video message that she is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer and is “well and getting stronger every day.” However, new conspiracy theories have emerged online, suggesting that her video might be an “AI-enabled deepfake”.
Kate has been absent from the public eye since undergoing abdominal surgery in January, leading to various rumors and bizarre conspiracy theories. In the video, she is seen sitting on a bench in the gardens of Windsor Palace, wearing a black and white striped sweater and blue jeans, with cherry blossoms and daffodils in the background. She explained that the cancer was discovered after the surgery, prompting her to undergo preventative chemotherapy.
However, some social media users have questioned the authenticity of the video, suggesting it could be a deepfake. They pointed out issues such as the stationary leaves and grass in the background and the absence of a dimple on her cheek, which is prominent in other images of her.
Despite the speculation, Kate received an outpouring of support from her family, including Britain’s King Charles III, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and US President Joe Biden. Kate expressed gratitude for the support and emphasized that she took the time to explain her situation to her children before making it public.
Prior to the release of the video message, photos and videos of Kate appearing happy and healthy alongside her husband at a farm shop in Windsor were published by the UK’s Sun newspaper. However, some social media users flagged issues with the shots, alleging that the woman depicted was a body double for Kate Middleton.
Rumors of an affair between Prince William and Sarah Rose Hanbury, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, also circulated during Kate’s absence. However, Rose Hanbury denied these rumors, stating they were completely false.
Speculation about Kate’s disappearance intensified when major news outlets withdrew a photo of her and her children released on Mother’s Day, following claims that the image had been edited or generated by AI. Kate apologized for any confusion, attributing it to her occasional experimentation with photo editing as an amateur photographer.
