Kate Middleton video: do members of the British royal family have body doubles or stand-ins?

Reports that Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, has been seen out and about in public for the first time since Christmas Day have been met with a certain amount of scepticism. A video which appears to show her walking with Prince William at a farm shop at the weekend was released on Monday.

Internet users unconvinced by Kate Middleton and Prince William farm shop video

Tabloid news organisations TMZ and The Sun both shared the clip of the royal couple, with the Duchess of Cambridge said to be “in good spirits” by the former amid concerns over her health. Kensington Palace revealed Middleton underwent “planned abdominal surgery” in January and that she would be off royal duties until Easter at the earliest, although speculation has persisted that something more sinister could be going on.

It was reported earlier on Monday that the princess was seen on Saturday looking “healthy and happy,” according to fellow shoppers at the Windsor Farm Shop, which is about a mile from their home at Adelaide Cottage, Windsor. The town of Windsor itself is almost 22 miles west of central London.

However, many internet users weren’t convinced of the authenticity of the video that was subsequently released, with many claiming the 42-year-old had been replaced by a double.

Queen Elizabeth II’s stand-in

As far as any of us are aware, only one member of the British royal family has had a body double in recent memory, and not in the truest sense of the word.

Up until the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, Ella Slack acted as the late monarch’s stand-in, but only in very specific situations.

Pensioner Slack didn’t particularly resemble the former queen, but was chosen as her ‘double’ as she is of a similar height and build. That allowed her to take Elizabeth’s place during rehearsals for major events, which the monarch wasn’t always able to attend due to her busy schedule.

Slack, however, would never stand for the queen at official engagements, and revealed to Great Big Story that there were some strict rules she had to follow.

“It started because I was at the BBC and the producer that was doing the cenotaph came to see me and said that the Queen had sent a message to say that when she stood at the cenotaph, the sun was in her eyes and could we do anything about it.

“I said to him, ‘Would you like me to come and stand in the position for you?’ because all the stage managers were six-foot men! But I’ve never been allowed to sit on the throne at the House of Lords, I have to lurk above it. It’s a very strict rule.”

King Charles nearly misses investiture over “body double” joke

The only other body double story connected to the British royal family concerns Charles, the current king.

At his investiture as Prince of Wales in 1969, there was false speculation a paramilitary Welsh nationalist organisation were planning to blow up the royal train at the event at Caernarfon Castle in north Wales, such was their opposition to him taking the title.

The Queen Mother joked to Charles he would have to be replaced by a body double for ceremony, which the royal very nearly believed. He almost missed his investiture as a result, as revealed by security expert Richard J Aldrich to True Royalty TV years later.