Princess Kate Middleton is set to make a grand return to public life on Easter Sunday, March 31, following months of controversy, confusion, and conspiracy theories surrounding her whereabouts. Sources close to the royal family have revealed that the Princess of Wales plans a "big bang" comeback, marking her official return to the public eye after a lengthy absence since Christmas.
Despite initial speculation that Kate's return would come sometime after Easter, insiders suggest that her resurgence will happen sooner rather than later. A close friend of the princess told Daily Beast that they hoped to see Kate attending the church service on Easter Sunday morning, signaling her official return to public duties.
Meanwhile, additional sources have affirmed that preparations are underway for the Princess of Wales's highly anticipated comeback. One trusted insider shared that the occasion would serve as a "pivotal moment" for the Prince and Princess of Wales, while a former Buckingham Palace staffer described Easter Sunday as "the natural choice" for Kate's reemergence.
Kate's whereabouts have been the subject of intense scrutiny and conspiracy theories ever since she underwent abdominal surgery in January. The controversy escalated earlier this month when the princess was caught editing a photo she posted to celebrate Mother's Day - a picture that was later pulled by four major news agencies over "serious concerns" that the image had been "manipulated."
As a result of the photo controversy, sources claim that Kate has lost the privilege of posting photos, with the responsibility now delegated entirely to Kensington Palace. "We won't be seeing any more official pictures with Kate's credit. It would just stir the whole story up again," one royal insider revealed. "The kids are older now anyway, so it is less of an issue."
The speculation surrounding Kate's whereabouts reached new heights following the release of a grainy video showing her and Prince William visiting the Windsor Farm Shop over the weekend. While Kensington Palace used the video to prove that Kate was "happy, relaxed, and healthy" amid her ongoing recovery, skeptics claimed that the woman appearing alongside William was not actually the princess.
"If that's Kate, then I'm Wonder Woman," one of the many doubters commented. "If they're going to send out a look-alike at least put a hat and sunglasses on her so it's not so obvious that it isn't Kate."
Despite the ongoing conspiracy theories, expectations are building that the Princess of Wales will walk to church with other members of the royal family on Easter Sunday and greet well-wishers in a show-stopping set piece, heralding her return to public life. A friend of King Charles told The Daily Beast that the monarch "of course" hoped Kate would attend church on Easter, though they emphasized that there was no pressure being put on her to do so, and that the decision would ultimately be hers.
A former Buckingham Palace staffer noted that attending the Easter Day church service at Sandringham with her family would provide a "powerful dose of continuity" and serve as a natural choice for Kate's return to the public sphere. The former courtier also suggested that it was unlikely there would be a social media campaign featuring Kate or that her team would release any more images of her before Easter.
In another sign that Kate is indeed preparing for her public comeback, Prince William publicly invoked his wife's name at a recent event at a homeless charity, referencing her focus on early years projects and implying that she would soon be present at such events.
