Actress Blake Lively was among the first to issue a public apology shortly after Princess Kate revealed her cancer diagnosis.
Lively, a mother of four, expressed regret on her Instagram Stories on Friday following a previous post that inadvertently trivialized the controversy surrounding Kate's Mother's Day photo featuring her three children.
"I'm sure no one cares today, but I feel compelled to acknowledge this," Lively wrote without directly mentioning Kate. "I made a lighthearted post during the 'photoshop fails' commotion, and I deeply regret it today. I apologize. Sending love and well wishes to all, always. ❤️."
The post, which Lively has since removed, was intended to promote her beverage company and featured an edited photo of the actress holding a drink with exaggerated elements such as a large thumb and a giant falling lemon.
"I'm thrilled to share this new photo I just took to announce our 4 new @bettybuzz & @bettybooze products! Now you know why I've been MIA," Lively captioned the photo.
Lively's post coincided with controversy surrounding Kate's Mother's Day photo, which she shared on social media on March 10. Several news agencies retracted the photo due to concerns about manipulation.
The photo, for which Kate later apologized for any confusion it caused, marked her first official appearance since undergoing abdominal surgery in January and taking a hiatus from public engagements.
Kate's prolonged absence from public view, coupled with the photo controversy and her husband Prince William's absence from a royal engagement due to personal reasons, fueled online speculation about her health.
In a video message released by the palace on Friday, Kate addressed these rumors with a heartfelt announcement that stunned both the public and royal observers.
"The surgery was successful," Kate said regarding her January procedure. "However, post-operative tests revealed the presence of cancer. As a precautionary measure, my medical team recommended chemotherapy, and I am currently undergoing treatment."
While Kate did not disclose further details about her diagnosis or treatment, the 42-year-old delivered the news in her own words, personally written by herself, as confirmed by ABC News.
The gravity of Kate's announcement prompted remorse from those who had engaged in online speculation about her health.
"Yeah, I definitely feel bad about laughing at all the 'KateGate' memes. Wishing her a speedy recovery," wrote Saint Hoax, an influencer with 3.4 million followers on Instagram, in a post sharing Kate's video.
Similarly, the creators of "Pop Apologists," a podcast and Instagram account with over 280,000 followers, apologized for their coverage of Kate during the height of the speculation.
"Our admiration for Princess Catherine has never wavered, and we are now praying for her continued recovery," they wrote on Instagram.
Others echoed these sentiments, suggesting that more transparency from Kensington Palace earlier on could have quelled the speculation.
Despite the outpouring of support, palace officials reiterated their commitment to maintaining Kate's medical privacy and announced that there would be no further updates on her condition.
As for her return to public duties, the palace stated they would provide information when appropriate, emphasizing the family's need for privacy during this time.