NYC Promotes Waste Management Using Kate Middleton's Photoshopped Image

The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, has been at the centre of increasing conspiracy theories since she temporarily withdrew from her royal duties in January citing abdominal surgery. Almost everybody on the internet has donned detective suits to find out where Kate Middleton is. Now, the Department of Sanitation in New York City has added to the rumours, saying it has located her in the city.

On Tuesday, a picture of Kate Middleton depositing a trash can outside on a street in New York City was posted on the department’s X (formerly Twitter) account. “Kate’s been found! She’s putting her trash out in bins!” the post stated. The post also asked followers to “be like Kate” and utilise sealed garbage cans.

When a picture of Kate with her three kids—Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis—was posted on Mother’s Day in the UK, speculation reached a fever pitch. When it became evident that the photo had been edited, major photo agencies promptly pulled it.

Things don’t slide smoothly on the internet. The sanitation department’s intentionally ill-photoshopped picture, which was meant to parody Kensington Palace’s Mother’s Day shot, was hailed by commenters. A user commented, “Wow! Kate’s Photoshop skills have improved a lot!”

If you’ve been following the rumours about Kate Middleton these past few weeks, you’ve undoubtedly heard about Rose Hanbury, aka the Marchioness of Cholmondeley.

Since 2019, British media have been circulating rumours that Hanbury might have had an affair with Prince William, and the widespread perception that Kate and William are having marital problems has brought a lot of attention back to her.

Even if there is some truth to this, it wouldn’t be particularly something new; in 1992, one of the major scandals that compromised the British royal family’s reputation was the split of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, who had separated after the former confessed having engaged in extramarital affairs.

Referencing the same, another user wrote, “Finally; someone is cleaning out the House of Windsor to reveal its dirty tricks!”

Well, distaste for Prince William was certain to be caused by all these rumours. Another user continued with a sarcastic comment, “William is inside?”

In any case, if you’re wondering when the Princess of Wales will officially go back into the public eye, the answer could be sooner rather than later. Kate “has not ruled out making a return to the public eye on Easter Sunday,” according to The Telegraph. She could even go on the yearly royal stroll to St. George’s Chapel with the other royals.