Princess Kate Spotted Publicly for the First Time Since Surgery
After nearly two weeks of recovering from abdominal surgery, Princess Kate has been spotted publicly for the first time. The 42-year-old princess was photographed on Monday near Windsor Castle, being driven by her mother, Carole Middleton. The photograph, however, was not released or authorized by Kensington Palace.
This sighting of Kate comes amidst ongoing online speculation about her health and well-being. The princess, who is the wife of Prince William and a mother of three, was last seen publicly on Christmas Day when she joined the royal family in walking to church at Sandringham, the royal family’s estate in Norfolk, England.
In mid-January, the palace announced that Kate had undergone “planned abdominal surgery” at The London Clinic. Although the palace did not provide further details about the surgery, they did confirm that it was non-cancerous. Kate spent nearly two weeks in the hospital before continuing her recovery at her family’s home in Windsor.
The palace’s announcement on January 29th, stating that Kate had been discharged from the hospital, was one of the few updates they have shared regarding her status. This lack of information, combined with her husband’s recent absence from a royal engagement due to a “personal matter,” has fueled rampant speculation online about Kate’s well-being.
However, a spokesperson for the palace has assured the public that Kate is “doing well” as she continues to recover. They dismissed the social media speculation, stating that Kensington Palace had already provided a timeline for the princess’s recovery and would only provide significant updates. It was also mentioned that Kate is not expected to resume her public duties until later this spring.
In previous years, Kate and William, along with their children, have been photographed walking to church together on Easter Sunday. Additionally, the royal family will gather publicly on June 8th for the annual Trooping the Colour celebration, which marks King Charles III’s birthday. The U.K. Ministry of Defense has confirmed that Kate will attend this year’s celebration, although Kensington Palace has yet to officially confirm her attendance.
As the princess makes her first public appearance since her surgery, many will be relieved to see her looking well. With her recovery progressing, it is likely that she will gradually resume her royal duties and continue to fulfill her role as a beloved member of the royal family.
