The British newspaper "The Sun" published a video of Princess Kate Middleton's first appearance after a surgery described as delicate, where she appeared to be in good health alongside her husband, Prince William, following a storm of rumors regarding her health. The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, was seen looking "happy, healthy, and relaxed" during a visit to a local shop over the weekend, marking the first time she has been seen since undergoing the previously planned abdominal surgery.
According to "Daily Mail," Kate and Prince William were spotted at one of her favorite locations, about a mile from their home in Adelaide, Windsor, on Saturday, after watching their three children—George (10 years), Charlotte (8 years), and Louis (6 years)—participate in a sports activity earlier.
Tsunami of Speculation
According to the newspaper, this sighting at "Windsor Farm Shop" will give a boost of hope to the British public, who have grown increasingly concerned about the princess’s health amidst a "tsunami" of speculation regarding her unknown condition. A witness told "The Sun" that they saw the couple the previous night, saying, "After all the rumors circulating about them, I was shocked to see them. Kate was shopping with William and looked happy and in good health. The children weren't with them, but this is a good sign she was well enough to go to the store."
While no photos of the couple were taken—per their request for privacy during Kate's recovery—this reported appearance is an encouraging sign that she is taking her first steps towards returning to official royal engagements. The princess, who last made a public appearance on Christmas Day, is expected to resume public service after April 17, when her children return to Lambrook School after the Easter break.
Possible Early Return
However, British media indicates that there are signs Kate may return earlier and could potentially be seen attending the annual Easter service at St. George’s Church in Windsor. According to "The Telegraph," the princess hasn't ruled out making a public appearance on Easter Sunday and might join her family for a traditional walk that will be photographed. A palace source told the newspaper that "there is no confirmation either way," adding that anything else is mere speculation.
Reports of an early return and sightings in Windsor follow closely after a photograph surfaced of the princess in the back of a car with Prince William as they left Windsor Castle last Monday.
Heading to "A Special Appointment"
Prince William was en route to Westminster Abbey for the annual Commonwealth Service while it was revealed to "MailOnline" that Kate was heading to "a special appointment." In recent weeks, rampant rumors—fueled by social media and foreign press—have circulated about the reason behind Kate's absence, although Kensington Palace has indicated a timeline for her recovery.
The "Katespiracies" online have ranged from claims that she was recovering from a "Brazilian butt lift" to theories suggesting she was in a coma, a notion raised by a journalist on Spanish television. Some jokingly suggested she was participating in the television competition "The Masked Singer," or perhaps was being excluded from the royal family. Other "trolls" and conspiracy theorists capitalized on her absence, spreading defamatory claims due to the lack of regulation on social media, according to "Daily Mail." Even Kim Kardashian posted a selfie stating, "On my way to find Kate."
Manipulating a Family Photo
These allegations intensified when the princess was blamed for a family photo released by Kensington Palace on Mother's Day, which was later pulled from six leading photo agencies worldwide due to concerns of being "manipulated." "Her friends say the media frenzy over her health came after it was pointed out that part of Princess Charlotte's sleeve and the hem of her skirt were missing, alongside other speculations about Kate’s zipper placement." Among the numerous flaws in the image, viewers also noted that Kate appeared not to be wearing her wedding ring, sparking various unfounded theories online about her marriage status.
The uproar on social media prompted the princess to issue a personal apology on "X," where she stated, "Like many amateur photographers, I sometimes experiment with editing."
Apology and Concern
Reportedly, Kate aimed only to "bring a little joy" and release a reassuring image to thank the public for their continued support. It is said that William took the photo in a 40-minute window with a Canon camera worth £2,900 on Friday, before the princess edited it twice in Photoshop "to make it the best it could be."
Despite calls to share the original photo, Kensington Palace in London insisted it would not reissue the unedited image of Kate and her children. An insider commented, "I am concerned about all this attention on Catherine. She did not look happy at all in the car on Monday."
