Stephen Colbert, who recirculated rumors that a royal affair was linked to Kate Middleton's public absence, said he jokes about 'what everybody is talking about'

• Late-night host Stephen Colbert wished Kate Middleton well in her battle with cancer Monday night.

• Colbert's remarks came after he amplified unsubstantiated theories about Kate's public absence.

• Colbert said he made jokes about Kate's absence because "everybody" was talking about it.

Stephen Colbert offered his "well wishes" to Kate Middleton while she undergoes treatment for cancer, two weeks after he joked about conspiracy theories about her public absence.

Colbert, 59, responded to Kate's cancer diagnosis on Monday night's episode of "The Late Show." On March 12, the late-night TV show host bolstered speculation that Kate's absence from the public eye was related to an unsubstantiated rumor that Prince William was having an affair with Sarah Rose Hanbury, a British noblewoman.

Colbert's jokes about the affair rumors, which Hanbury denied to Business Insider via her lawyers, further motivated social-media users to discuss them on platforms such as X.

Colbert appeared remorseful while addressing his prior remarks on Monday night.

"I tell jokes about a lot of different things, mostly what everybody is talking about," he said.

He acknowledged that the jokes "upset some people" even before Kate's cancer was made public. He added that he has made many jokes that have received similar criticism in the past, and he will likely make more in the future.

Nevertheless, Colbert said, "I do not make light of somebody else's tragedy," adding that "any cancer diagnosis" is "harrowing for the patient and for their family."

"Though I'm sure they don't need it from me, I and everyone here at 'The Late Show' would like to extend our well wishes and heartfelt hope that her recovery is swift and thorough," he concluded.

Colbert didn't offer a direct apology in his remarks.

Chris Ship, an ITV royals correspondent, shared a clip of Colbert's comments on X. (The footage had not been posted to the official YouTube channel of "The Late Show" as of Tuesday morning.)

After Kate shared her cancer diagnosis on Friday, commentators including Piers Morgan and Helen Lewis, a UK-based Atlantic staff writer, criticized Colbert for the jokes, and some social-media users urged him to apologize.

Others on social media said an apology wasn't necessary. One X user praised the comedian for how he handled his response because "joking about public figures and what is happening in the news is part of being a late-night host."

Kensington Palace declined to comment. Representatives for Colbert did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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