[PREVIEW] The Allure Of KateGate And Royal Conspiracies

UPDATE: On the afternoon of March 22, Princess Catherine announced that she is undergoing treatment for cancer. Our thoughts are with her and her family, and we wish her a swift recovery. This discussion primarily focuses on what the public reactions to her stepping back from public life say about the culture / the role of the royal family.Nearly three months after the last official appearance of Catherine, the Princess of Wales, and following approximately 17 waves of fevered speculation about the cause of her unusually long absence from the public eye, we decided it was time to dedicate an episode to KateGate. Where is Kate? Why has the U.K.’s future queen and preeminent momfluencer — a woman who thrice appeared for photos in heels, a blowout and full makeup mere hours after giving birth — disappeared from view for months at a time? And what does it mean that so many of the public, including American non-royal-watchers like ourselves, have gotten swept into the furor of conspiracy theorizing that has filled the void of her reliable presence?Sara Petersen of In Pursuit of Clean Countertops joined us to recap the timeline of events since this PR mess first began brewing, to discuss a few of the major theories behind her absence, and — most importantly — to unpack the seductiveness of this particular path down the rabbit hole. We examine Kate’s role as a momfluencer and a stalwart of the royal family, both of which center around being continuously available for public viewing. We also get into the shaky reputation of the English royal family at this historical moment, and how the well-documented horrific experiences of Princess Diana and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, with marrying into the royal family have shaped our expectations for what scandals must be brewing behind the scenes. And we consider how this particular conspiracy has thrived in a post-truth media climate, in which AI-generated and Photoshopped images make it difficult to trust any visual evidence — and how this plays into our own anxieties about our fundamental replaceability. We hope you enjoy! xoSome references & further reading:Ellie Hall’s thorough timeline and analysis: “It’s getting weirder: BuzzFeed News’ former royals reporter on Kate Middleton, Palace PR, and distrust in the media” Sara Petersen’s “Kate as the ultimate momfluencer” essayCharlie Warzel’s analysis of how Kate Middleton conspiracy theories are thriving in a post-truth, AI-fueled media landscape: “Kate Middleton and the End of Shared Reality”Elizabeth Holmes’s measured Substack coverage of Kate’s health situation and the swirl of conspiracy theories in response to itFran Hoepfner’s takedown of the Kate-as-imaginary-revolutionary theories: “Wherever She Is, Kate Middleton Isn’t on Our Side”Anna Russell’s New Yorker essay on the cultural forces at play in the explosion of conspiracy theories: “The Kate Middleton Conspiracy-Theory Swirl” Kathryn VanArendonk’s look at the many failures of Kensington Palace’s press team: “The Royals Are So Bad at This”Madison Malone Kircher’s NYT interview with Heidi Agan, a professional Kate Middleton impersonator who has gone on the record to deny being the woman seen at the Windsor Farm Shop: “This Is Not Princess Catherine”Share Rich TextIf you liked reading this, click the ❤️ button on this post so more people can discover it on Patreon!Give us feedback or suggest a topic for the pod • Subscribe • Request a free subscription