KateGate: Internet users dispute new public sighting of Catherine, Princess of Wales

MANILA, Philippines — New images of Catherine, Princess of Wales being out in public emerged in British media, however, users on the Internet aren’t entirely convinced.

British tabloid The Sun published a video and a photograph of a Kate walking alongside her husband and heir to the British throne Prince William at a farmer’s market in Windsor, west of London.

The images come a week after Kate admitted to editing an official portrait of her and her three children that was released by Buckingham Palace.

Prior to the incident, she had not been seen at any public event since Christmas after undergoing abdominal surgery in January, fuelling speculation about her health.

The Sun and another British outlet The Daily Mail, both known to be supportive of the royal family, called the new images a “perfect answer to trolls” and will “silence the conspiracy theorists.”

Such comments did not hold people on the Internet back, with many claiming the woman in the images was not Kate at all.

Several users on X, formerly Twitter, posited that the woman is William’s alleged “lover” Lady Sarah Rose Hanbury, a former model and current Marchioness of Cholmondeley.

Here are more reactions from X users, some of them poking fun at the whole incident:

TMZ released this brief video ‘allegedly’ showing the Prince & Princess of Wales leaving a market in Windsor.

I hate getting caught up in all of the speculation, but to me, this looks more like Prince William’s rumored mistress, ‘Rose Hanbury’, than Princess Kate Middleton.???? pic.twitter.com/b6CeiEsC1L

— Marla Hohner (@marlahohner) March 18, 2024

Kate Middleton breaks cover: Smiling Princess of Wales is pictured during visit to farm shop in image that will silence the conspiracy theorists pic.twitter.com/efYvhfmFzF

— don’t dog the bounty hunter (@allhatnoplay) March 18, 2024

Princess of Wales spotted at the farmer’s market pic.twitter.com/EEtknMojFD

— Carey O’Donnell (@ecareyo) March 18, 2024

I might have to tap out of this whole Kate Middleton thing because I genuinely, hand on heart, do not think these pics look like the same woman & it’s making me feel like I’m losing my mind. Like, I’m not trying to be a conspiracy theorist, but that is not her?? pic.twitter.com/NMmmMIZf3T

— Stephanie Soteriou (@StephanieRiou) March 18, 2024

this Kate Middleton situation has fr got me feeling like a flat earther pic.twitter.com/0uRcyftZYZ

— Annie Wu?? (all socials: @annie_wu_22) (@Annie_Wu_22) March 19, 2024

must be scary to be a brunette in England right now knowing that at any minute a tabloid could take your photo and say you’re kate middleton

— katie (@katefeetie) March 18, 2024

— Christopher Bouzy (spoutible.com/cbouzy) (@cbouzy) March 19, 2024

RELATED: New pictures of Kate published a week after photo-editing furore