Imagination is powerful. And even more so if your food is the lack of information. The “scheduled abdominal operation” that Kate Middleton underwent on January 16 without further details from Kensington Palace has given rise to numerous conspiracy theories. From the beginning.

But as the weeks have progressed, the jokes have increased, especially when her husband, Prince William, announced that he would not attend the Thanksgiving mass for Constantine II of Greece in Windsor just seven days ago. Not only was she expected to lead a British royal family affected without King Charles III due to cancer, but her name appeared in the reading program and, in addition, she was the godson of the last Hellenic monarch.

Her absence was explained “for personal reasons”, which alarmed everyone, although Kensington Palace was quick to counteract the situation by announcing that Princess Catherine was “progressing well”. A week after the meeting of royal houses in London, it is still unknown what personal reason could have caused William’s notable absence at the last minute.

Once again the lack of information played its Machiavellian role and once again it was demonstrated that the British royal house has not known how to manage the disappearance from public life of one of its most beloved members. For all these reasons, the publication of the first photo of Kate Middleton since she underwent the mysterious intervention has been considered proof of life to silence conspiracy theories. The princess lives. For those who had serious doubts about it.

The photograph, taken on Monday and broadcast today in American media (and later replicated by the English who, thus, have been able to maintain their commitment to the British royal house regarding Catherine’s desire for privacy), shows the princess inside a car near Adelaide Cottage, the residence of the Princes of Wales which is located in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

In the image, captured by The Post agency, she can be seen wearing dark glasses sitting in the passenger seat of an Audi driven by her mother, Carole Middleton. There are many British media outlets that have shown her joy and relief at the princess’s reappearance. For example, the Daily Mail headlined “What a pleasure to see!” and added: “Silencing the conspiracy theorists.”

In this sense, surreal theories can be read on the networks, such as that the Princess of Wales is in Glasgow attending an immersive experience about Willy Wonka or that she donated a kidney to King Charles III. Others aim to clarify what ailment she suffers from, from mental health problems to Crohn’s disease, not to mention other more alarming theories or those that place her outside the country. There is something for everyone.

If the photo has been the result of the patience and luck of a paparazzi or if it responds to some movement of hidden threads with a very clear objective, it is still another of the theories that surrounds the British royal family, which has a 2024 full of silences.

Perhaps to help further clear up doubts, the Ministry of Defense has also announced today the presence of the Princess of Wales at the dress rehearsal ceremony for Trooping the Color on June 8. It would be her first scheduled event this year, although still unconfirmed by the British royal house.

However, if we pay attention to the first statement from Kensington Palace, Catherine would reappear even earlier, after Easter. Without a doubt, it will be one of the great events of the year in Great Britain.