Months after her planned abdominal surgery, Kate Middleton’s condition and whereabouts remain largely unknown.

Aside from brief statements about her well-being, the Palace has provided no details, fueling speculation. Adding to the controversy was a Mother’s Day photo of Kate with her children, which media outlets later pulled due to apparent manipulation.

News agencies, including the Associated Press and Getty, issued a “kill notice” advising against the use of the image. The Associated Press stated, “It appears that the source has manipulated the image,” citing inconsistencies, particularly in Princess Charlotte’s hand.

Kate later admitted to editing the photo herself, writing on X, “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.” However, the Palace’s refusal to release the unedited version only intensified speculation, with some questioning whether Kate was truly behind the situation.

Following the photo controversy, concern over Kate’s condition has only grown. Royal expert Hilary Fordwich criticized the Palace’s handling of the situation, calling it “yet another public relations disaster.”

She told Fox, “A ‘slimmed down monarchy’ means fewer people guiding the royals, and those who are left aren’t as media-savvy as they need to be.”

Royal commentator Rob Jobson echoed these concerns, stating, “Kate had done the Palace a ‘favor’ by taking responsibility, but the manipulated picture has ‘added fuel to the fire.’” He emphasized that in today’s digital world, official photographs must not be altered, as it damages the credibility of the institution.

Meanwhile, King Charles has remained silent on Kate’s surgery and recovery, focusing on his own cancer treatments.

According to royal expert Daniela Elser, Charles has been unwillingly pulled into yet another crisis, writing, “Here was a god-given opportunity to tamp down the mania engulfing social media… Instead, major news agencies put out that ‘kill notice,’ and things went nuclear.”

Elser described the situation as a “Chernobyl-sized mess,” with William and Kate’s team failing to manage the crisis. She noted that as Charles nears his one-year anniversary as king, he has little reason to celebrate, facing personal health battles while also dealing with ongoing royal tensions—including the lingering presence of Harry and Meghan.

“In Spare, Harry recalled Charles pleading, ‘Please, boys. Don’t make my final years a misery.’ Sadly, William and Kate are accidentally doing exactly that this week,” Elser concluded.