The world finally got a glimpse of Kate, the Princess of Wales, in a photo released on Sunday. This comes after weeks of speculation surrounding her whereabouts since her abdominal surgery almost two months ago.
The Associated Press and other news agencies later removed the photo as it seemed to be manipulated, leading to further speculation.
The credit for the heartwarming photo of Kate, sitting in a chair with her three children by her side, goes to her husband, William, who is the Prince of Wales and the heir to the throne. The picture was taken in Windsor earlier this week.
Kate expressed her gratitude on social media, acknowledging the kind wishes and ongoing support she has received in the past two months. She also took the opportunity to extend her well wishes to everyone, wishing them a Happy Mother’s Day.
AP initially published the photo that was issued by Kensington Palace. However, AP later retracted the image due to a closer inspection that revealed the image had been manipulated in a way that did not meet AP’s photo standards. The photo displays an inconsistency in the alignment of Princess Charlotte’s left hand.
The media office at Kensington Palace does not operate on weekends, and we did not receive an immediate response to a voicemail left for a spokesperson.
After weeks of rumors circulating on social media regarding Kate’s whereabouts, a photo was finally released, putting an end to all the speculation. The photo came as a surprise, as Kate had not been seen in public since Christmas Day and had recently undergone surgery, which required her to stay in the hospital for almost two weeks.
In recent weeks, there has been increased scrutiny on the royal family as both Kate and King Charles III are unable to fulfill their usual public duties due to health issues.
Royal officials have confirmed that Prince Charles is currently receiving treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer. The illness was discovered during his treatment for an enlarged prostate. As a result, all of his public engagements have been canceled while he focuses on his recovery. However, he has been seen walking to church and has also had private meetings with government officials and dignitaries.
On January 16, Kate, 42, underwent a surgical procedure. The details regarding her condition and the specific reason for the surgery have not been disclosed. However, Kensington Palace, along with Prince William and Kate’s office, confirmed that it was unrelated to cancer.
The palace initially stated that it would only share important updates and that she would not resume royal duties before Easter, which falls on March 31 this year. However, amidst the swirling rumors and conspiracy theories, the palace released another statement last month reaffirming that she is doing well and reiterating their previous statement.
“Kensington Palace emphasized in January that they would only be sharing important updates regarding the princess’ recovery and this stance remains unchanged,” the palace stated on February 29th.
In a previous instance, The Sun newspaper was informed by royal aides that they were aware of the frenzy on social media. They remained firm in their decision not to alter their strategy, emphasizing the importance of respecting the Princess’s privacy and urging the public to do the same.
Last week, there were concerns raised when the British military announced Kate’s attendance at a Trooping the Color ceremony in June without consulting palace officials.
Kate’s appearance would have marked her first major official duty since the surgery. However, Kensington Palace has not confirmed any scheduled public events for her. It is worth noting that palace officials, not government departments, are responsible for announcing and confirming the royals’ attendance at events.
The army later eliminated any mention of her presence.
According to British media reports, the army released information about Kate’s appearance in June without seeking approval from Kensington Palace. They announced the event with the assumption that Kate, as the Colonel of the Irish Guards, would be inspecting the troops at the annual military ceremony this year.
