The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, is facing a more difficult recovery than anticipated following her abdominal surgery in January, according to a well-placed royal source. The insider, speaking to Radar Online, revealed that the 42-year-old mother of three is "struggling to eat" and that her recuperation has been "more difficult than expected," raising significant concerns within the palace walls.
"Kate was already painfully thin, so this is a cause for major concern behind palace walls," the source added, highlighting the gravity of the situation. Middleton was discharged from the hospital on January 29 after the procedure, which Kensington Palace had revealed weeks earlier in a press release, stating that the Princess of Wales would be hospitalized for two weeks for a pre-planned operation.
The palace's representative indicated that Middleton would not make any public appearances until at least Easter. However, as weeks passed without a sighting of the royal, the public began to question the severity of her condition, sparking a wave of conspiracy theories on social media.
On March 4, Middleton was seen in the passenger seat of a car driven by her mother, Carole, near Windsor Castle. A couple of days later, she released a Mother's Day photo of herself with her children, taken by her husband, Prince William. The image, however, turned out to be heavily photoshopped, prompting the Associated Press to issue a "kill notice," directing outlets to take down the manipulated picture. Middleton swiftly issued an apology for the mishap, stating, "Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused."
Hours after the apology, Middleton was photographed leaving Windsor Castle with William. Despite these appearances, the paparazzi photos did little to quell the growing concerns about Middleton's health, with many questioning the authenticity of the images and fueling further speculation.
Over the weekend, an insider told the Sunday Times that Middleton plans to release more information about her health in the near future, indicating that she has been shaken by the growing controversy surrounding her absence from public life. "They will want to be clear and more open, but they'll do it when they feel ready," the insider said. "I would expect that to be her instinct and it will be her call. They're not going to be rushed."
Additionally, The Sun reported that Middleton was spotted shopping at a local store a mile from her home, with a source describing the princess as looking "happy, relaxed and healthy." However, the lack of photographs from the alleged outing has led many to doubt the veracity of the report, further compounding the uncertainty surrounding Middleton's condition.
The limited details provided by Kensington Palace regarding Middleton's health have only served to intensify the speculation and conspiracy theories circulating on social media. As the public eagerly awaits more concrete information about the Princess of Wales' recovery, the royal family faces the challenge of balancing the need for privacy with the growing demand for transparency.
The ongoing situation has highlighted the immense pressure and scrutiny faced by members of the royal family, particularly when it comes to matters of health. As Middleton continues to recover from her abdominal surgery, the palace will need to carefully navigate the delicate line between maintaining the royal's privacy and addressing the mounting concerns of the public.
