Shopper who filmed Kate’s first appearance since hospital treatment says conspiracy theorist trolls are ‘delusional’ – while BBC reporter fans flames saying ‘It’s clearly not her’
The shopper who filmed Kate Middleton’s first public appearance since undergoing abdominal surgery has branded cruel conspiracy theory trolls ‘delusional’.
Nelson Silva, 40, said he saw the Princess of Wales “with my own eyes” on Saturday when she went to her local farm shop in Windsor with her husband Prince William.
Millions of people breathed a collective sigh of relief when they saw ‘happy, relaxed and healthy’ Kate smiling as she quickly walked out of the store with a full shopping bag.
However, others on social media continued to make insane claims, including that the woman in the video was not the royal but in fact a body double.
BBC sports reporter Sonja McLaughlan appeared to be among those who fueled the bizarre suggestion when she told her followers on X that it was ‘obviously not Kate’ in the clip. In a now-deleted tweet, she even suggested that the heir apparent could have been replaced by an actor.
Prince William and Kate were seen this weekend visiting The Windsor Farm Shop, close to their home. Pictured: The couple pictured together in October last year
Today BBC sports reporter Sonja McLaughlan appeared to join conspiracy theorists online who claimed the woman in the video was ‘clearly not’ the Princess of Wales
In a now-deleted tweet, the BBC reporter claimed that ‘it’s clearly not her’ as she tweeted about Kate’s appearance
Speaking for the first time since encountering the Princess of Wales in the meat section of the farm shop, Mr Silva told the Sun: ‘I’m not so much shocked that these comments have continued, I’m just confused as to how exactly they can continue.
“This is a video that clearly shows her and William. I’ve seen them with my own eyes. It was a completely relaxed situation.
“What else do you need to fire her? I thought after this was released they would go quiet. But these people are so involved in the drama now.’
The father, who met the royals at the Windsor Farm Shop around lunchtime on Saturday, believed the release of the footage would put an abrupt end to the wild rumors surrounding Kate’s health, but fears it would do the opposite.
After the clip emerged, people in the video suggested Kate was too tall to be her, while another crazy theory claimed the footage was shot in December because there were ‘Christmas decorations’ in the background.
In less than 24 hours, the rumored body doubes racked up over 12 million views on X and over 11 million on TikTok.
The Windsor resident said he was “shocked” and “confused” as to why the conspiracy theories persisted. He said he saw the future king and queen with his own eyes and “it was a completely relaxed situation.”
“Even famous people are guilty,” Silva added. “People with a big online platform now can’t admit they’re wrong because they look so delusional.”
William and Kate were spotted leaving Windsor for Westminster Abbey last Monday to attend the Commonwealth Day Service
Prince William and Kate were spotted together at the Windsor Farm Shop around lunchtime on Monday
BBC freelance reporter Ms McLaughlan came under fire yesterday for appearing to fan the flames of conspiracy theorists
He called on those making claims online to “fire” the princess and stop spreading their baseless “rumors and lies.”
The father, who lives in the city with his wife and daughter, had taken the couple in to send back to his family in Portugal.
He first saw Will and Kate in the shop, where they had been ‘chatting and laughing with the staff’, before seeing them walk back into some fields on their way to their home, Adelaide Cottage.
Kate’s weekend appearance marked the first time she has been seen in public since scheduled abdominal surgery in January.
Despite Kensington Palace setting out a clear timeline for the Princess’s recovery – with her return to the public eye expected after the end of the Easter holidays – online trolls have sparked bizarre theories.
Baseless and hurtful conspiracy theories spread about her online include that she is dead, has been replaced by a body double or that Wales’ marriage is in trouble.
A royal source told the Telegraph: ‘Finally everyone can calm down.’
But last night BBC freelance reporter Ms McLaughlan came under fire for appearing to fan the flames of conspiracy theorists.
Ms McLaughlan wrote: ‘Disturbing that newspapers like The Times are reporting this as fact. Headline ‘Kate seen in public for the first time’ when it’s clearly not her. As someone said. It could be a couple of doppelgängers getting up to mischief.”
Kate Middleton lookalike Heidi Agan (pictured) has debunked the ‘crazy’ conspiracy theory that it’s her in a farm shop video of the Prince and Princess of Wales
Heidi is seen with a Prince William lookalike who bears a striking resemblance to the future king
Commenting on a video comparing the princess in the images to other previous photos of herself, she added: ‘It’s so clearly not Kate. Some newspapers report it as fact. But it’s not her. Not a conspiracy theorist, but all very strange.’
The BBC declined to comment on the matter.
The body led to double claims Britain’s ‘most realistic’ Kate Middleton lookalike wants to put an end to ‘crazy’ conspiracy theories that it is her in the farm shop video instead of the real Princess of Wales.
Heidi Agan, 43, who has made a living impersonating the royal for more than a decade, said she “100 percent” believes the images are Kate and William.
“There has obviously been some speculation about whether it was Kate and William in those images and photos,” she told The Mirror.
“Actually, my own social media has gone crazy because people think it’s me, but I know it’s not. I was working at the time, so I know it’s not me. “I 100% believe it’s Kate Middleton and William in that video.”
“So she’s alive, and we can be sure of that. It has all gone too far now,” she added.