Kate Middleton Conspiracy Theories Tied to U.K. Government Sanctions for Russian Disinformation

The U.K. government has sanctioned a group believed to be behind “a vast malign online network” that reportedly went after Princess Kate amid her health issues.

A Russian-based disinformation campaign that reportedly targeted Kate Middleton earlier this year is facing sanctions from the U.K. government.

On Oct. 28, the U.K. government sanctioned three Russian agencies, including Social Design Agency (SDA) and its partner, Structura, for deploying online misinformation, known as Doppelganger, to distort the truth around Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Earlier this year, the Russian-affiliated group allegedly amplified online rumors and conspiracies about Kate’s absence amid her abdominal surgery and subsequent cancer diagnosis, leveraging the public curiosity surrounding her health to further pro-Russian narratives.

British authorities alleged that those involved are behind “a vast malign online network, also commonly known as Doppelganger, which plagues social media with fake posts, counterfeit documents and deepfake material. These deceitful tactics are designed to mask the truth around Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and distract from the true nature of the war.”