Royal watchers have shared their delight after the Princess of Wales was seen in public for the first time since her operation in school photographs released in the US.
Kate, who has taken a step back from the spotlight as she recovers from abdominal surgery, was seen being driven by her mother Caroline near Windsor.
It is the first time the princess has been seen in public since celebrating Christmas at Sandringham with Prince William, her children and the rest of the Royal Family.
Delighted with her first public appearance, one royal fan wrote on social media platform X: “What a pleasure to see.”
Another said: “It’s wonderful to see her go out and get some fresh air.” I hope you take it easy. Her health is first and most important.’ A third added: “With her lovely mother too.”
The Princess of Wales has not been photographed since attending the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham.
Princess Kate attended the service with Prince William and their children George, Charlotte and Louis.
The images were published by US gossip website TMZ, but not in the UK after Kensington Palace asked that she be allowed to recover privately.
Kate was photographed wearing sunglasses in the passenger seat of an Audi 4×4 driven by her mother Carole Middleton near Windsor Castle. The photographs were taken shortly before 9am, suggesting the mother and her daughter were returning from the school run.
It comes after it was claimed last night that Kate’s ‘black sheep’ uncle Gary Goldsmith, Carole’s brother, was scolded by the princess’s parents after signing up for Celebrity Big Brother amid fears he could reveal secrets about the Royal Family.
On January 17, Kensington Palace announced that Kate had been admitted to the London Clinic the day before for “planned abdominal surgery.”
He said the operation had been successful but would result in a two-week stay in hospital before a long period of recovery at his Windsor home.
They added that based on current medical advice, he is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.
A spokesperson stated that it was Kate’s personal wish to keep her personal medical information private and said she would only provide an update if there was “important new information to share.”
However, her clear statement has failed to stop social media and foreign websites, from the New York Times to Vogue, from wildly speculating about the princess’s whereabouts and what may have happened to her. The hashtag #whereiskatemiddleton has been trending daily.
Even the BBC website addressed the issue, highlighting outlandish speculation under the headline: “The royal dilemma as public curiosity about Kate’s health grows.”
Some have been ridiculous: like the Internet rumor that she is recovering from a ‘Brazilian butt lift’ or is in a coma, a theory sparked by a Spanish television journalist.
Other trolls and conspiracy theorists have used his absence and the anarchy of social media to spread deeply sinister and highly defamatory claims.
Kensington Palace had no comment this evening, but sources stressed that these were paparazzi photographs that were not authorized by the palace.
Last week, a spokesperson reiterated their advice that they would not make “running comments” about the princess’s health, no matter how provoked by nasty internet rumors.
“From our perspective, we made it very clear in our statement at the beginning of this in January that the Princess of Wales was planning to be out of public action until after Easter and that has not changed,” they said.
‘We were always clear that we would not provide updates when there was nothing new to share. The last thing anyone wants is a running commentary on the Princess of Wales’s recovery. “Nothing has changed from that approach in January.”
William also thanked Welsh schoolchildren for giving Kate a bouquet of flowers last week.
Kate left hospital on January 29 and returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to join her children almost two weeks after surgery. In the photo: Kate and William in September 2022
Officials have said the Princess of Wales (pictured on December 5) continues to do “well.” Kate plans to return to royal engagements after Easter
Kate left hospital on January 29 and returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to join her children almost two weeks after surgery.
William temporarily stepped away from his royal role to juggle caring for her and their children, but held engagements in Wrexham and at a synagogue in London last week.
While in Wrexham, the Prince of Wales was asked: “William, how is Catherine?”
William did not answer the question as he walked towards Wrexham AFC’s Racecourse Ground during a trip to mark St David’s Day last Friday.
As he headed to the stadium, another fan asked the heir to the throne: “Can I take a selfie please?” -but he said: ‘Can I say hello to the team? I will return.’
He also thanked the Welsh schoolchildren for giving him a bouquet of flowers for Kate.
Last Tuesday, William pulled out of a memorial service for the late King Constantine of Greece at Windsor Castle due to an unspecified “personal matter.”
Meanwhile, last month, he thanked the public for their “kind messages of support” while speaking at an event in London about Kate and the King’s cancer diagnosis.
William’s words of praise, delivered during a fundraising dinner, recognized those who wished Kate well. He told guests: “It means a lot to all of us.”
Kate is currently under the close supervision of royal doctors and benefits from London Clinic aftercare, with dedicated physiotherapists available with a personalized plan and a home video check-up with a specialist nurse available.
NHS advice on recovering from abdominal surgery says that after a major operation with a large incision, it takes two to three months to be able to move around comfortably.
William at the Baftas in London on February 18 before suddenly leaving the monument to his late godfather, King Constantine of Greece, for an unspecified “personal reason.”
The King has been seen at Sandringham going to church every Sunday, but public duties have been suspended.
The family lives at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor’s Home Park and is supported by their staff, including loyal and veteran nanny María Teresa Turrión Borrallo.
It is also believed that Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, and her siblings, Pippa Matthews and James Middleton, will be pitching in at this time to help the Welsh get through this period while the princess recovers.
Last night, sources told The Sun that Carole was furious with her brother Gary Goldsmith, Kate’s uncle, over his rumored appearance on Celebrity Big Brother, which returns to our screens tonight.
A source said: ‘Gary said Kate’s mother Carole and father Michael read him the riot card.
‘They’re not happy that I’m going on Celebrity Big Brother. They find it exasperating. Kate doesn’t need this stress.
In Charles’ absence from public duties, Camilla has become the most senior royal figure at engagements and led the Royal Family in service for King Constantine last week.
There has been a sudden shortage of senior royals this year after Charles and Kate were hospitalized around the same time.
And the family’s health problems have left William shouldering more of the burden of public duties while also supporting Kate and helping to care for their children.
Charles was admitted for surgery for a benign prostate condition, but was subsequently diagnosed with an unrelated cancer. The monarch has withdrawn from public duties while he receives treatment.