Catherine has been seen for the first time since December, months after her hospitalization in January, sparking rampant conspiracy theories and viral assumptions about her supposed “disappearance.”
The Princess of Wales, formerly Kate Middleton, was photographed on Monday by Backgrid. a photo hosting agency, near Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom, sitting in the passenger seat of an Audi driven by her mother, Carole Middleton, according to TMZ.
The Daily Mail reported that Monday's sighting of the princess came via paparazzi photographs that were not authorized by the palace.
The casual outing, in which the princess appears wearing sunglasses and no security, is the first time the 42-year-old has been seen in public since she celebrated Christmas at the Sandringham estate in eastern England. with her husband, Prince William, her three children and the rest of her family. the royal family, People reported.
The royal was admitted to the London Clinic on January 16, Kensington Palace said, for planned abdominal surgery and successfully underwent the procedure. However, the palace added that the princess was expected to be hospitalized for 10 to 14 days after the mysterious surgery and “before returning home to continue her recovery.” She would return to public duties after Easter, on March 31, based on current medical advice, the palace said.
“The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate,” Kensington Palace said. “She hopes the public understands her desire to maintain as much normality as possible for her children; and her desire that her personal medical information remain private.”
Despite his wishes, the announcement, along with the simultaneous health problems of his father-in-law, King Charles III, sparked even more interest in his condition and much wild speculation given his absence from public attention, as well as that of his children. and parents. . Amid theories about an organ donation to Charles, a Brazilian butt lift, a mommy makeover or the possibility that she was in a coma, the topic (hashtag #whereiskatemiddleton) has been a topic of conversation ever since.
As many Redditors and casual social media users wondered: “What's going on with Kate Middleton?” the BBC analyzed the “royal dilemma” over Kate's health, the New York Times referred to the rumors swirling around her, Vogue followed “The Curious Case of the 'Missing' Princess” and this newspaper tried to uncover Kate. what was the frenzy about her. The alleged “disappearance speaks about royalty and us.”
Kate left hospital on January 29 and returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, where she was reunited with her children. Prince William, second in line to the British throne, temporarily stepped away from royal duties to take care of children, but continued other royal engagements in Wrexham and London.
Last week, the 41-year-old prince, who is also expected to take on more royal duties following his father's cancer diagnosis, gave further fuel to the rumors when he cited a “personal matter” for his absence from his father's funeral. godfather, King Constantine of Greece.
However, a spokesperson reiterated the palace's stance that “ongoing comment” on Kate's health would not be provided despite online rumours.
That, according to the Telegraph, was testing the company's “never complain, never explain” policy.
“From our perspective, we were very clear in our statement in early January that the Princess of Wales planned to be out of public action until after Easter, and that has not changed,” a family spokesperson told the newspaper. Telegraph.
“We were always clear that we would not provide updates when there was nothing new to share,” the spokesperson said. “The last thing anyone wants is a running commentary on the Princess of Wales's recovery. “Nothing has changed from that approach in January.”
