HOUSTON — Is Catherine, Princess of Wales, in Houston getting cancer treatment?
The Royal Family says no, but there's a chance you've seen the rumor popping up on your social media feed within the last 48 hours.
The Texas Medical Center is no stranger to high-profile patients because it is one of the leading cancer centers in the world, so it sounds plausible that Kate Middleton could seek out the expertise of doctors at MD Anderson.
But, the Royal Family squashed the rumors right away when Kensington Palace said the 42-year-old princess wasn't in Houston for treatment or any other reason.
KHOU 11 News also contacted the BBC, which said royal sources told them that Princess Kate hasn't even left the United Kingdom since her diagnosis earlier this year.
We also contacted MD Anderson, who wouldn't confirm nor deny the rumor due to healthcare privacy rules.
So, how did the rumor get started? It seems to be traced back to a Reddit post in which someone claimed to have visited Houston's St. Regis Hotel last weekend and friends staying there said Middleton was spotted there and assumed she was in town for treatment.
From there, a Royal Family fan on TikTok posted a video with the information that picked up 500,000 views.
The St. Regis Hotel didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Cancer diagnosis annoucement
In late March, Princess Kate announced she underwent chemotherapy treatment after a recent surgery.
"I want to take this opportunity to say thank you personally for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I've been recovering from surgery," Princess Kate said in a video announcement. "It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family."
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"In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London, and at the time it was thought that my condition was noncancerous. The surgery was successful, however, tests after the operation found cancer had been present," Princess Kate continued. "My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy, and I'm now in the early stages of that treatment."
Wearing a casual striped sweater and jeans, Kate sat on a wooden bench in front of a lawn dotted with daffodils. The flowers, which bloom in early spring, are often used as a symbol of hope for people fighting cancer.
The Princess of Wales said the news came as a shock to her and Prince William and that they have been "doing everything we can to process and manage this privately, for the sake of our young family."
Kate asked for “time, space and privacy” while she was treated for an unspecified type of cancer.