Brit talk show host John Oliver jokes Kate ‘could have died 18 months ago’ after photo-shop fiasco – despite Princess of Wales being seen twice in a week
John Oliver has spoken out about the speculation surrounding the Princess of Wales, joking that Kate ‘could have died 18 months ago’.
The Last Week Tonight host made the comments Tuesday night during Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live — despite the princess being seen twice in one week.
“There is no chance that she died eighteen months ago,” says the British comedian.
“Maybe in this situation they’re ‘Weekend at Bernie,’” Oliver added, referring to the 1989 film.
Oliver continued the segment with host Andy Cohen, who noted the royal family’s motto “Never Complain, Never Explore.”
John Oliver has spoken out about the speculation surrounding the Princess of Wales and joked that Kate ‘could have died 18 months ago’ during a late night appearance
Prince William leaves Windsor for Westminster Abbey on Monday with his wife, the Princess of Wales, by his side
Kensington Palace has released the first photo of the Princess of Wales since the operation
“I’m not saying it happened, but I am saying it’s not zero until proven otherwise. Until we see her sitting there with a copy of that day’s newspaper,” he said.
Oliver said he ignored the speculation about Kate until “the Photoshop thing.”
“It feels like you’re almost impressively handling it badly at this point,” the HBO star claimed.
The mother-of-three was not expected to be seen in public until after Easter after undergoing abdominal surgery and spending two weeks in a private hospital in London in January.
However, she was photographed with Prince William on Monday as they left Windsor Castle together.
Her surprise appearance on Monday came as wild online conspiracy theories swirled around the princess and her health.
Kate was also seen on March 4 in the passenger seat of a 4×4 Audi that her mother Carole Middleton was driving near Windsor Castle.
It came as Kensington Palace came under increasing pressure to release the original Mother’s Day photo after the Princess of Wales apologized after admitting she edited the family portrait of herself while with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis fed up.
Experts told MailOnline that it was modified using Photoshop and related AI tools.
The world’s biggest photo agencies later ‘killed’ the photo after noticing signs of digital editing, including a missing section of Princess Charlotte’s sleeve and the misaligned edge of her wrist and skirt, and the placement of Kate’s zipper.
The Princess of Wales apologized on social media. She said: ‘Like many amateur photographers, I occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to apologize for any confusion the family photo we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone who celebrated had a very happy Mother’s Day.’
She signed it ‘C’ – for Catherine.
PR experts have described the Mother’s Day photo fiasco as a “major own goal” and have urged royal officials to release the unedited photo in a bid to regain public trust.
Kensington Palace initially faced calls to reveal the truth behind the photo after the world’s top photo agencies – including the Press Association – ‘killed’ the image over claims it had been digitally manipulated.
Several well-placed sources in royal circles have told the Mail that Kate and her team have found the public fallout from the ‘edited’ photo very ‘disturbing’.
Several well-placed sources in royal circles have told the Mail that Kate and her team have found the public fallout from the ‘edited’ photo deeply ‘disturbing’.
They said: ‘Everyone, including the princess, is a bit shocked by what happened.
‘A mistake was made, but she raised her hand and apologised. It’s been very disturbing all around.
William and Kate often pay personal tributes on Mother’s Day, but it was also hoped that a new image of the princess – officially the first since Christmas Day – would put to bed vicious rumors on social media about her condition.
In recent weeks, internet trolls have spread a slew of scandalous smears about her well-being, which have now become the subject of mainstream speculation, even on the BBC.
Kensington Palace has not deviated from its initial announcement in January that the future queen had undergone ‘planned abdominal surgery’ and, although she was recovering well, it was unlikely she would be able to resume her official duties until after Easter.