Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, has been spotted for the first time in over two months since undergoing abdominal surgery. The 42-year-old royal was photographed sitting in the passenger seat of a black Audi SUV while her mother, Carole Middleton, drove near Windsor Castle on Monday. Kate tried to keep a low profile by wearing black sunglasses and leaving her hair down.
It is unclear where they were going, but it appeared to be a casual outing for the mother-daughter duo. This is the first time Kate has been photographed in public since December 25, 2023, when she, Prince William, and their three children attended a Christmas morning event at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Norfolk, England.
Just a month later, Kensington Palace announced that Kate had undergone a planned abdominal surgery on January 16, 2024. A statement shared on Instagram on January 17 confirmed that the surgery was successful and that Kate would remain in the hospital for ten to fourteen days before continuing her recovery at home. The statement also revealed that she would be unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter, which falls on March 31 this year.
However, speculation about Kate’s whereabouts arose when Prince William canceled an appearance at a memorial service for the late King Constantine II of Greece due to undisclosed personal reasons. A spokesperson for Kensington Palace assured that Kate was doing well, but this did not stop online chatter about her recovery.
Kate’s representative later provided an exclusive statement to Page Six, confirming that she is still doing well and will continue her recovery. The representative emphasized that significant updates would be provided as per Kensington Palace’s guidance.
Interestingly, around the same time Kate’s health ordeal was announced, Buckingham Palace revealed that King Charles III was undergoing a routine procedure on his prostate. Later, it was disclosed that the King had been diagnosed with cancer, although details about the stage or type were not released. King Charles III expressed his gratitude for the support and good wishes he received and resumed his royal duties less than three weeks later, meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Buckingham Palace on February 21.
As Kate Middleton makes her first public appearance since her surgery, royal watchers are relieved to see her looking well. Her recovery has been closely followed, and her return to public duties will surely be eagerly anticipated.