How Princess Kate and William Clapped Back at Conspiracies One by One

Princess Kate and Prince William pulled to pieces a litany of online criticisms and conspiracy theories during a week in which their public appearances and statements appeared replete with coded meanings.

The first half of 2024 has not been kind to the Wales family after Kate’s abdominal surgery in January led to a diagnosis of cancer, but also saw her caught up in a frenzied social media trend that suggested she was “missing.”

However, the princess is back after attending her first public appearance since Christmas Day in June and the family, including their children, look as though the weight has been lifted from their shoulders.

They also appear to have weaved some hidden meanings into a variety of their appearances and posts, from Prince William dancing to “Shake It Off,” to Kate dressing like Eliza Doolittle, and a clap back to gossip about their marriage.

Princess Kate’s Trooping the Colour Outfit

It is often observed that nothing is accidental in the carefully chosen wardrobes of royal family members and Kate’s big return to the limelight on June 15 saw her in an outfit with an unmistakable resemblance to Eliza Doolittle.

The famous character from the musical My Fair Lady was a Cockney flower girl taught to pass as a duchess in high society. Should anyone doubt Kate’s familiarity with the story, she actually played Eliza in a school production aged 11.

The princess, whose great-great-great-great grandfather was a working-class coal miner and who was not born into the aristocracy, appeared therefore to be framing herself as someone who has had to learn the airs and graces of royal life.

Some fans on social media felt they may even have spotted an additional clap back to trolls on social media who have nicknamed her “Duchess Doolittle,” while royal author Tom Quinn also suggested in his 2023 biography Gilded Youth that William uses the moniker as a jokey nickname for his wife. Of course, only Kate knows whether she was aiming for either, both or neither of these more involved reference points.

The following day, William also marked Father’s Day by posting an old photo of him and Charles playing football together from before Prince Harry was born.

Princess Kate’s Love for Prince William

One conspiracy theory that hit the mainstream after it was openly discussed on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert questioned William and Kate’s marriage.

The comedian told viewers in March that “the kingdom has been all aflutter by the seeming disappearance of Kate Middleton,” adding that “internet sleuths are guessing” that Kate’s “absence may be related to her husband and the future king of England, William, having an affair.”

He then proceeded to give a detailed outline of a specific rumor that was denied by the palace in 2019 only to later concede the “joke” may have fallen short of his own moral code after Kate revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer.

Needless to say, should there have been any remaining weight to the notion the couple were heading for a divorce, Kate put all that to bed when she was careful to say she loved William in a message on his birthday.

She used the official Kensington Palace account on X, formerly Twitter to write: “Happy birthday Papa, we all love you so much! Cx.”

By contrast, in 2023, the Wales’ X account did not mark Prince William’s birthday at all, even though the main Royal Family account did.

And in 2022, on his 40th, William alone posted, writing: “Thank you for all the happy birthday messages today!”

Prince William’s Shake It Off Moment

There have also been a number of wild theories, including dating back to before this year’s health crisis, suggesting Kate had left with the kids.

And the Prince of Wales showed he was not going to let the hate get to him when he took Prince George and Princess Charlotte to see Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour for his birthday on Friday, June 21.

He was even filmed dancing to “Shake It Off,” a song that could not have been better chosen to depict a family leaving the rumors and gossip behind them.

All in all, the message from William and Kate appears to be clear—the crisis is over, the conspiracy theorists lost and life has begun again.

Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek‘s The Royals Facebook page.

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