WINDSOR, England — After nearly two months of staying out of the public eye while recovering from an abdominal procedure, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, was spotted being driven in a car near her home at Windsor Castle on Monday, according to photos obtained by the celebrity website TMZ.
The sighting marks the first time the 42-year-old royal has been seen outside since undergoing surgery in mid-January to treat an unspecified abdominal issue. Buckingham Palace had stated that the operation was not cancer-related, but revealed few other details, citing the princess’s privacy.
In the paparazzi photos, a casually dressed Princess Kate can be seen in the passenger seat of a vehicle, her face partially obscured by large sunglasses as the car drives through a wooded area near the castle grounds. British media outlets have largely declined to publish the clandestine images out of respect for the princess’s recovery period.
“We are not running them out of respect for her privacy whilst she recovers from her operation in the timescale we were given for it,” Chris Ship, royal editor for ITV News, wrote on social media about the decision to withhold the photos.
The palace had previously indicated that the princess, widely admired for her diligent work ethic, was expected to remain out of the spotlight until after the Easter holiday in early April as she regained her strength at home following the procedure.
Kate’s weeks-long absence from royal duties had fueled rampant speculation and conspiracy theories online about the gravity of her medical condition. Rumor and misinformation swirled as she skipped a series of high-profile events alongside her husband, Prince William.
The intense public interest even appeared to impact the future king, who abruptly canceled plans to attend a memorial service for his late godfather last week, citing only a “personal matter” for his withdrawal.
Kensington Palace swiftly affirmed that William’s absence was unrelated to his father King Charles III’s ongoing treatments for cancer, without directly tying it to concerns over his wife’s health. Officials did state, however, that the Princess of Wales was “continuing to recover well” from surgery.
The coinciding health issues in the royal family compounded worries, coming just days after Charles, 75, revealed he had been diagnosed with a form of cancer following a procedure to treat a non-cancerous prostate condition.
Like his daughter-in-law, the king has stepped back temporarily from public engagements as he receives treatment, though he has maintained his core constitutional duties like weekly meetings with the prime minister.
For royal watchers and the public alike, the glimpse of Princess Kate out and about again is a reassuring sign that her condition was not as serious as some had feared based on her extended convalescence.
“I think people will be relieved to see these photos and know that the Princess is recovering well,” said Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty magazine. “There was a lot of worrying speculation when she went quiet for so long after surgery.”
The next major royal event on the calendar where Kate is expected to resurface is the annual Trooping the Colour parade, which celebrates the British monarch’s official birthday. The grand military pageant is scheduled for June 8 in central London.
Her supporters will no doubt be eager for the princess to make her comeback at the high-profile event, which typically sees the royal family gather on the Buckingham Palace balcony to watch a flypast and greet well-wishers.
In her decade as a working member of the royal family, Kate has carved out her own distinct path, focusing her efforts on early childhood development, mental health, and outdoor activity. Her trendy sartorial choices and relatability have further burnished her popularity both in the U.K. and abroad.
While details remain scant about her precise medical condition, her return to full duties will be welcomed by royal observers as providing stability and reassurance alongside her husband, who is heir to the throne.
As Charles takes on more of the privileges and responsibilities of kingship, William and Kate are expected to continue elevating their public profiles to support the monarch and prepare for their future roles.
