The first official image of Princess Kate after her abdominal surgery, posted online to mark Mother's Day, has sparked optimism about her recovery among royal watchers. In the photo, taken by the Prince of Wales in Windsor earlier this week, the princess is seen with her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, looking happy and relaxed.
Royal commentator Jennie Bond, speaking on GB News, pointed out one feature of Kate's appearance that she believes is cause for optimism. "My first reaction was, goodness me, she looks fine and it's a full-length picture, otherwise we'd probably have other conspiracy theories," Bond said. "She's wearing quite a tight pair of jeans, which after abdominal surgery suggests that she's feeling a bit more comfortable."
In the photo caption, the princess thanked the public for their "kind wishes and continued support over the last two months," signing off with the initial "C" for Catherine. The image is the first released since Kate was admitted to the London Clinic, the private hospital where King Charles underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate, for a planned operation on January 16.
Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months.
Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day. C
The Prince of Wales, 2024 pic.twitter.com/6DywGBpLLQ — The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 10, 2024
Charles, 75, visited his daughter-in-law's bedside after being admitted himself on January 26, the 11th day of Kate's stay. She was also visited by her husband, Prince William. The princess left the hospital on January 29, almost two weeks later, and returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor.
The post comes several days after Kate was spotted out for the first time since her surgery, being driven by her mother, Carole Middleton. It was the first major sign that the future Queen is recuperating well after her operation.
Despite Kensington Palace's announcement that the princess would step back from all official duties during her two-week hospital stay and a period of convalescence at home until after Easter, Kate's long-awaited return was plunged into chaos on Tuesday when the Army announced she would appear at a Trooping the Colour rehearsal in June. Hours later, the Ministry of Defence was forced to remove any mention of the princess' involvement after news of the June 8 run-through was not signed off by the palace.
Royal officials were caught unaware by the announcement, leading aides to insist they were solely responsible for confirming diary arrangements for the Prince and Princess of Wales. A Kensington Palace spokesman reiterated a previous statement, saying, "The timelines provided on the Princess' hospital stay and planned return to royal duties were very clear from the outset. Nothing has changed."
Amid the speculation surrounding Kate's health, the palace has hit out at the "madness of social media" and has been reluctant to provide a "running commentary" on her condition or recovery. A spokesman for the Prince of Wales told People magazine, "His focus is on his work and not on social media."
Tomorrow, Kate is set to miss one of the biggest events in the royal calendar, the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, although Prince William is expected to attend. He will be joined by Queen Camilla and the rest of the institution's working royals, while King Charles will also be absent as he undergoes cancer treatment.
The service will focus on stories of environmental resilience and marine sustainability, through performances representing the five regions of the Commonwealth, and will feature a pre-recorded video message from the Head of the Commonwealth, King Charles.
As the royal family faces a barrage of health troubles, the princess's latest photo serves as a reassuring signal of her progress in recovery. The heartwarming image, shared on Mother's Day, has provided a glimpse into Kate's family life and has been met with relief and support from the public as she continues her recuperation.
