WATCH: Video of Kate Middleton Sighting at Farm Shop Surfaces
Unusually, when British tabloid The Sun first reported the sighting over the weekend, the story wasn’t accompanied by any photographs.
Jane Barlow/Pool via Reuters
When Catherine, Princess of Wales was spotted at a local farm shop near her family’s home in Windsor, England on Saturday, tabloid stories about the sighting of the recently reclusive royal were oddly devoid of any photographic proof. Royal fans, well-wishers, and the growing contingent of conspiracy theorists wildly speculating about Kate’s disappearance from the public eye since undergoing abdominal surgery late last year just had to take their word for it.
But on Monday afternoon, a 38-second video purportedly showing the outing was finally published in tandem by The Sun and TMZ—though neither outlet gave a reason for the delay.
The cell phone footage appears to capture Kate walking alongside her husband, Prince William, in leggings and a sweatshirt. The Sun, describing her as “relaxed and happy,” reported that the footage had been obtained “just hours” after its initial report about the shopping trip was published on Sunday.
“Some even refused to believe our front page yesterday,” the tabloid sniffed, noting that “vile and bullying online behavior” targeting the royals was continuing apace.
Both The Sun and TMZ credited the footage to a witness named Nelson Silva, a 40-year-old shopper who spotted the couple in the bread aisle. Silva gave an identical eyewitness statement to both outlets.
Get the best of The Beast delivered right to your inbox
By clicking “SUBSCRIBE” you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
“I went to my car and as they came out of the shop I just filmed them,” he said. “I think they walked out through a gate out of the grounds. They just vanished and I didn’t see a car. I just wanted to share with my family footage and show just how normal they were.”
Silva also said the outing looked “natural,” something confirmed by an unnamed witness who spoke to The Sun. “It’s just a woman shopping with her husband on a Saturday afternoon just like thousands of other couples across the country,” that person said.
TMZ also published a screenshot of the video’s metadata, showing that it had been shot on an iPhone on Saturday afternoon near William and Kate’s home. “So yes, it’s a legitimate video,” the tabloid said.
The couple visited the farm shop after watching their three children—George, 10, Charlotte, 8, and Louis, 5—play sports, according to The Sun’s initial report.
The Sun added on Monday that “it is understood” Kate plans to return to work when she is “good and ready,” a declaration that is unlikely to put to bed a rumor mill still churning through the grist of a botched Photoshop job and two prior “confirmed sightings.”
The 42-year-old was initially expected to resume royal duties around Easter, but her return has since been pushed back.
A source in Kate’s office, when asked if the images were authentic, said they wouldn’t comment on her private time.
See more of our coverage in your search results.
Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.
Register below to read this article for free or subscribe
to unlock unlimited access to The Daily Beast.
Monthly
$1
First month then $5.99/month
Annual
$35
First year then $59.99/year
Premium
$79
First year then $119.99/year
*Substack access provided by the next business day, using your subscription email. Choosing the Premium plan constitutes your permission to share your subscription email with Substack and your agreement to Substack’s Privacy Policy.
Already have an account? Sign In
Looks like you already have a subscription!
You're all set!
Thanks for subscribing.