Photo of Kate Middleton at the Farm Shop

[penjil]

She does look a bit different. But at least she's out and about.

If I start doubting that W&K are prone to making tone-deaf decisions with really, really shit optics, I remember the 'Colonial Royals' Tour.

So what do you think has actually happened?

Because Occam's razor says that the Mother's Day photo was probably a few different photos stitched together on a phone camera to make sure all the children were looking at the camera/had their eyes open etc.

But others seem keen to say that the palace clearly faked a photograph really badly to cover up some awful truth. Which I just don't buy.

Do,you do the same to your family friends and colleagues? If they go out when off sick you immediately roll your sleeves up and telling them they should be doin emails or video calls? Or is it just the royals you think if they can walk they need to work?

This photo you posted has been AI enhanced. That's why it doesn't even look human.

Kate has aged terribly. My first thought when they said she would be basically hidden for 2-3 months was facelift bit takes time first the swelling to subside. The photo of her in the car with carol a while back looked very swollen.

It's so stupid. If she has had a face lift it will be so obvious that they will end up looking like liars who are ashamed of her having work done. It's such a bad pr move.

@Freakinfraser

lol at the conspiracies. Shes lost weight so her face is thinner, woman’s overwhelmingly likely to habe had exactly what they said. Abdominal surgery.
Sickness induced weigh loss on an already underweight woman doesn't leave the face looking taut and youthful though does it.
It leaves it looking haggard.

No matter. It will be abundantly clear in a few weeks if she's had a facelift

It's hard not to agree with this.

If this is her, and she HAS had cosmetic surgery (her bone structure looks completely different), the return to duties is going to be rocky.

😂Very true

Do,you do the same to your family friends and colleagues? If they go out when off sick you immediately roll your sleeves up and telling them they should be doin emails or video calls

I don't think that's too much of a stretch tbh.

If a worker is off sick, but is seen looking fit and well and going shopping, but claims they can't make a short video contribution to a conference - for example - yes, I think some employers would take a dim view.

Oh cmon it’s a grainy video shot from a distance, unless you’ve some sort of super power you’ve no idea if hee skin is taught . Ffs. You habe to laugh at this utter nonsense.

@Freakinfraser It is fine to go out when off sick. She does not look at all ill or even like someone who has had major abdominal surgery. The walk is sprightly. It is the walk of someone fit and healthy.
She does not have to go back work to do an 8 hour shift as a cleaner or behind a bar, or even 8 hours at a desk meeting her performance targets. If she released a video message for St Patricks Day Parade and had an internal Early Years meeting, that would be a normal working week for her anyway.

Queen Elizabeth would never have behaved like this.

She could be physically ready to return to work but not mentally.

Either way it’s 2 weeks to Easter so guess we’ll find out soon enough!

I don't think they would lie and say she'd had abdominal surgery to cover up cosmetic surgery.

Personally I think they've made it worse themselves but the fundamental truth is correct. I watched the video and think it clearly is them, maybe people are doubting as we are not used to seeing Kate dressed casually and she definitely looks to have lost a lot of weight, you can see that by her legs.

I think it's fine for her to be out and about on a small trip like this but not yet be back to 'work' (such as it is!). She has effectively been signed off sick by doctors for X amount of time and part of that recovery has to be getting out and about again.

I'm assuming also that this video was set up by them to show her up and about (The 'proof of life' demanded by Twitter lol) and as such she may have been making extra effort to show her wellness - walking quicker, holding the carrier bag etc. That's not to say she's back to full strength generally though.

I’m more gobsmacked that someone upthread could tell her eyes have apparently changed colour 😂

Surely cosmetic surgery wouldn't entail such a long hospital stay and mean that planned engagements would have to be cancelled? It's an elective thing which could be done any time - don't the Royals knock off for a few weeks every summer, why not do it then, could be under cover of an 'extended break abroad/rural break in Scotland' or something like that. She'd hardly have it done in some central London hospital with a million journos camped at the door.

Also I don't think it's fair to compare her to the King - the roles are very different and she (theoretically) has more room to step back. The King will see it as important to stay as visible as possible in his role.

Well then we agree to disagree. She’s had major abdominal surgery, she’s given a return to work day, she’s clearly lost a lot of weight, and you’ve no idea of her energy levels over a prolonged period, or even the meds she’s on. Even a highly qualified doctor would not seek to decide what she can and cannot do,like you, from a brief image.

i for one think she should be allowed her recovery time without working. I understand you don’t support that. So we agree to disagree. I’d assume 8 weeks after she is nearing full recovery and can do certain things, more and more, but I do not for one moment believe anyone can or should be deciding on someone else’s sick leave unless they the doctor in attendance.

She does not have to be back to full strength to do a few hours of work a week.

And lots of people who work long days with chronic illness can not walk as sprightly as that on a good day. Most women after major abdominal surgery that keeps them in hospital for 2 weeks can not carry full shopping bags with no problem either.

If the Palace thought it was a good idea to set either Kate or a look alike to walk sprightly carrying full shopping bags then they are daft. It is normal for people to come back to work still recovering. It can take a year or more to fully recover from some operations. But being fully recovered and able to work are two different things.

Exactly and then cancel all her appts with no notice.

Hmm. I know it's all terrible gossip but is there a chance she is anorexic and has suffered some of the issues anorexics can face rather than abdominal surgery per se? Could be triggered if things going wrong in her marriage, family otherwise or pressures from Charles being ill and potential for William to become king and her queen? Would that happen or would Camilla stay on? They would want to keep it hush hush as this was what happened to Diana and also probably at her request as it's sensitive.

I’ve wasted too much of my morning so
my final comments:

Nelson Silva was filming before the couple. appeared. Do you think he saw them, ran to his car, and then waited for them to emerge, and then start filming… and then stop filming just as they began to get closer?!?

I don’t!

The thing that worries me is… I actually do think it looks really like William. Surely to god he wouldn’t stage it with a lookalike (would he???) … so maybe the whole thing has been staged, but with Kate??

Yes, people say “oh in Windsor it’s not a big deal, everyone’s used to seeing them”…. But that was before she went vanished for 84 ruddy days and sparked a global frenzy!

So: totally, totally staged. Weirdly good William though. And if it is Kate, the bystanders are staged too.

There is a whole swirl of silences, weird behaviours, faked photos, retracted appearance announcements, etc, etc. King Charles could stop this in an instant, but he’s not. The potential repercussions could affect the Constitution of these isles, and while I do actually think the behaviours people are displaying are perhaps displaced delayed grief for the late Queen on some level, a certain degree of speculation is normal, human and perhaps in the circumstances even healthy. We pay for these chancers!

And I’m sure she will be still recovering when she comes back next month.

why are you so desperate for her to get back to work.

I would not compare her to Charles. Charles had always had a work ethic.

@Freakinfraser Because if this really is Kate, the behaviour up to now makes zero sense.