Following the news that Catherine, Princess of Wales, has been , Blake Lively is expressing regret for partaking in jokes related to the royal’s widely scrutinized and absence from the public eye. The “Gossip Girl” alum, 36, issued an on Friday for her contribution to the noise that has dominated the internet for weeks. “I’m sure no one cares today but I feel like I have to acknowledge this,” Lively began in a note on her
Instagram Story. “I made a silly post around the ‘Photoshop fails’ frenzy, and oh man, that post has me mortified today. I’m sorry. Sending love and well wishes to all, always.” Earlier in the day, Middleton addressed the global speculation about her health and her private recovery after in January. The princess ultimately revealed that though her
cancer was discovered amid follow-up tests. She’s now undergoing a course of preventative chemotherapy. Kate explained that the family had previously remained mum on the situation as she and
Prince William took time to explain everything to their children — George, 10; Charlotte, 8; and Louis, 5 — “in a way that is appropriate for them and to reassure them that I am going to be OK.” She requested privacy as she continues her treatment, noting that while she looks “forward to being back when I am able,” she “must focus on making a full recovery.” On U.K. Mother’s Day earlier this month, the palace released its first official image of Kate following her surgery. That photo — of Kate with her three young kids — proved to be altered and was . Middleton later . Lively joined in on the worldwide chatter, sharing a since-deleted image of herself with her with an usually large thumb, and a lemon floating in the air. “I’m so excited to share this new photo I just took today. Now you know why I’ve been MIA,” Lively quipped at the time. Several other celebrities, , also made jokes amid the conspiracy theories swirling about Kate, though following Friday’s news. Meanwhile,
Jimmy Kimmel and were among the celebrities who, just ahead of hearing from the princess herself, called on people to leave her be. “She had an operation, she had abdominal surgery. Maybe she has a colostomy bag and doesn’t want everybody to see it. I mean, really. People are demanding she get dressed up and march through
London so we can have a look at her. Leave this woman alone!” And mere hours before Middleton announced her diagnosis, Curtis took to Instagram to “This is a human being with young children, and clearly some sort of a health issue. That is a private matter,” the Oscar winner wrote. “Do we not have better things to do and more important things to think about and be concerned about than this?” Upon announcing Middleton’s surgery in January,
Kensington Palace noted the princess would be out of commission until after Easter. On Friday, after the announcement of her cancer, a palace spokesperson added that “the princess will return to official duties when she is cleared to do so by her medical team.”