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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

So where is she?!

844 replies

Amillionmenwenttomowameadow · 29/02/2024 13:32

Princess Kate?

Internet is going nuts about it, the theories are insane.

Hope she’s ok

OP posts:
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18
Newchapterbeckons · 29/02/2024 21:26

Given the ‘containment’ effort now firmly under way to attempt to silence even social media I would say they are facing huge crisis.

BillieMean · 29/02/2024 21:30

User7825525 · 29/02/2024 16:18

It's atrocious PR to say the least. PR is about reading the room and putting out something once you feel the public sentiment is tilting too far in one direction. It's not telling the public to STFU and then proceed to ignore them. Kate's disappearance is now headline news in many European papers...the biggest daily ones and not tabloids. They might be doing it for a few more clicks but those publications are far from nutters and conspiracy theorists.

Kate used to be a master at this. Even that immense tragedy where the nurse killed herself, pregnant Kate still gave the press a photo op in front of hospital. The original statement regarding her surgery never stated she would disappear entirely for 4 months. They gave the timeline and a followup piece about her working from home during the recovery period. That was perfectly setting things up for a statement, video call screenshot or maybe even picture of her during the time between her hospital discharge and resuming engagements. This was essentially what people were expecting at this stage. Some kind of statement or photo from her personally.

Kate is not a person to hide at the first sign of physical discomfort. She was clearly seriously ill at some point (the weight loss is obvious during photos of her engagements between Summer 2023 and Xmas 2023). However she put on a brilliant performance to hide whatever pain and problems she had. So it's entirely out of character for her to insist on recovering out of sight so many months after surgery. Even though everyone's timeline is different, 2 whole months is a reasonable time frame for her to release something IF she really wanted to.

So whatever is going on is probably a much bigger shitshow than the palace anticipated. She is either still physically too unwell or (I think more likely) re-evaluating her life and what she wants going forward. Maybe she enjoyed the time off with her children entirely undisturbed and wants to get off the hamster wheel. Maybe William is difficult behind closed doors and that combined with her recovery has made her see everything in a different light. Maybe she no longer believes the monarchy will be around by the time George is ready to ascend the throne so she's basically putting her children through an awful life in a goldfish bowl for nothing at all. She can see Pippa and Meghan's children growing up in relative privacy but with all the same material comforts.

I agree...

I definitely wouldn't blame her for needing a time-out.

Or maybe taking a bit of stance and stopping being "coachable".

Look at all the blue-blooded aristocrats who refused to marry William (despite him pursuing them) as they knew what would happen.

They wouldn't have any autonomy as they'd be expected to do what the public and Press and other members of the RF wanted.

The role is so weird and pressurised and obsolete.

Upper class people don't compare themselves to Sandra working at Tesco's, but each other.

Kate's peers are now just enjoying being private and rich and Sloaney and in control of their own families and schedules whilst their banker husband Hugo RichFace-Smyth brings the cash in.

If they want to go down Chelsea high street in an old Boden dress and Crocs and no bra no-one cares.

If they want a Mummy makeover or to take three months on a yacht swimming or send their kids first class to Monaco, it's their body and their family money, no-one cares.

Kate has to keep up with the egos and whims of all the Palace hangers-on and old retainers and agree to nasty stories going out about her mum and children "to keep the Press on side' and so Camilla's tabloid friends can keep happy.

The late Queen had an incredible work schedule, tolerated her husband's "lady companion", worked till the end, and didn't have much normal family time. She gave up the early married and family time she wanted.

But she was hereditary heir and a one-off.

If you don't need to have this shit in your life, it's really hard to justify keeping it. Or put your children through it.

It's only a few years till the Press starts coming for the children...

"Hi it's Piers Morgan..we've got an unflattering photo of Charlotte looking drunk and information on George's failed exam...which child do you want to throw under a bus?".

DappledThings · 29/02/2024 21:32

Newchapterbeckons · 29/02/2024 21:26

Given the ‘containment’ effort now firmly under way to attempt to silence even social media I would say they are facing huge crisis.

What's the containment effort? IsKatw now running a Russian bot farm as well to control the media? That's a new one.

Some people are just obsessed with thinking they are seeing through some great lie.

BrightHarvestMoon · 29/02/2024 21:40

Amillionmenwenttomowameadow · 29/02/2024 13:32

Princess Kate?

Internet is going nuts about it, the theories are insane.

Hope she’s ok

FGS, the Royal Family said OVER A MONTH AGO that she would not be around until after Easter. Let it go @Amillionmenwenttomowameadow Hmm

ItsAllAboutTheDosh · 29/02/2024 21:47

The Palace also said that Kate would be working from home. So it is strange that there have been no photos of her. It is also strange that palace statements have never said that Kate is expected to make a full recovery. That is a standard PR phrase in these situations.

potato57 · 29/02/2024 21:49

ItsAllAboutTheDosh · 29/02/2024 21:47

The Palace also said that Kate would be working from home. So it is strange that there have been no photos of her. It is also strange that palace statements have never said that Kate is expected to make a full recovery. That is a standard PR phrase in these situations.

It's pretty much a given she's going to make a full recovery, she's 40 not 80 and it's not cancer.

ItsAllAboutTheDosh · 29/02/2024 21:51

Then why not say that? The terrible PR is fuelling speculation.

ColleenDonaghy · 29/02/2024 21:53

ItsAllAboutTheDosh · 29/02/2024 21:51

Then why not say that? The terrible PR is fuelling speculation.

They have. Confused

ItsAllAboutTheDosh · 29/02/2024 21:54

Where?

ColleenDonaghy · 29/02/2024 21:57

Every statement. She's had surgery, she's recovering and then will return to work after Easter. And then since they've said that she's recovering well.

I don't know how many times it needs to be said.

Newchapterbeckons · 29/02/2024 21:58

I think it is very likely she is in a coma.

ItsAllAboutTheDosh · 29/02/2024 21:59

They say she is recovering well and will return to work. Not that she is expected to make a full recovery.

Jetstream · 29/02/2024 22:00

Jesus, Mary & Joseph, and the wee donkey. Who cares.
Such a big fuss about a person you don’t know and doesn’t give a jot about you.

BrightHarvestMoon · 29/02/2024 22:01

Do people think she's been abducted by aliens or something? Confused

ColleenDonaghy · 29/02/2024 22:04

ItsAllAboutTheDosh · 29/02/2024 21:59

They say she is recovering well and will return to work. Not that she is expected to make a full recovery.

Jesus Christ, the nit picking.

What do you characterise as a full recovery? What if she has pain from adhesions? IBS? A stoma? Needs a change in her diet?

She will recover well enough to return to work.

We don't need any more information than that.

Poppyzo · 29/02/2024 22:04

If she is well and clever she has duped them all and is having a fab time on holiday without the kids! 😂

CrunchyCarrot · 29/02/2024 22:04

I don't get the whole whipping up of 'where is Catherine?' that's going on. We know where she is. She's recovering from what must have been a big op. Nothing to see here, folks.

ItsAllAboutTheDosh · 29/02/2024 22:06

The phrase - expected to make a full recovery - is a standard PR phrase. The fact they have not used that is fuelling speculation. It either means they do not know if she will recover, or their PR are terrible at their job.

BillieMean · 29/02/2024 22:06

BRITNEY WOULD NOT BE FREE IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE INTERNET.

ColleenDonaghy · 29/02/2024 22:10

ItsAllAboutTheDosh · 29/02/2024 22:06

The phrase - expected to make a full recovery - is a standard PR phrase. The fact they have not used that is fuelling speculation. It either means they do not know if she will recover, or their PR are terrible at their job.

But maybe she will recover but not fully. Maybe she doesn't know yet how she will feel in the long run, even if she expects to be well enough to work. They have clearly said that they expect her to recover, and when. If she isn't ready to return to work shortly after Easter then they will decide what to say then.

SallyWD · 29/02/2024 22:11

Newchapterbeckons · 29/02/2024 21:58

I think it is very likely she is in a coma.

Oh for goodness sake

brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr · 29/02/2024 22:14

Maybe every day she wakes up silently screaming next to the world’s baldest man.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 29/02/2024 22:17

Fgs, leave the poor woman alone. I'm not even a royalist , but really! She has had major surgery and you gain nothing by baying for information/an appearance. It's unhinged.

Dymaxion · 29/02/2024 22:19

I think it is very likely she is in a coma.

Or just lying on her bed listening to The Smiths ?

ItsAllAboutTheDosh · 29/02/2024 22:21

@ColleenDonaghy they have not said they expect her to recover. They have said they expect her to return to work. Queen Elizabeth was working when she was very elderly and quite ill.