Kate Middleton at the Easter Mattins Service at Windsor Castle on April 9, 2023.Photo:Samir Hussein/WireImage
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Royal watchers are anxious forKate Middleton’s return to the public eye, but it’s still unclear when that will happen.
Upon announcing the news of the operation, Kensington Palace said Princess Kate “is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.”
While the guidance states that Kate won’t be out and about until after Easter, the holiday church outing is technically a private family event rather than a royal duty, leaving the possibility for an appearance on Easter open.
Prince George, Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Kate Middleton at the Easter church service at Windsor Castle on April 9, 2023.Yui Mok/WPA Pool/Getty
Yui Mok/WPA Pool/Getty
If Princess Kate doesn’t join the Easter festivities, it may be a few more weeks until she makes a public appearance. Kate andPrince William’s children —Prince George, 10,Princess Charlotte, 8, andPrince Louis, 5 — are on school vacation in early April, and the parents usually take time off to be with their kids during school breaks, meaning that she possibly won’t undertake a royal duty until mid-April.
In Kensington Palace’s Jan. 17 statement announcing the Princess of Wales' surgery, she apologized for having to cancel planned engagements.
“The Princess of Wales wishes to apologize to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements. She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible,” the palace statement said.
Thelack of clarityaround Princess Kate’s operation created a vacuum that’s been filled withconspiracy theoriesregarding her health and whereabouts, prompting a spokesman to issue asecond statementreiterating that she would not be resuming public duties until after Easter.
“We were very clear from the outset that the Princess of Wales was out until after Easter and Kensington Palace would only be providing updates when something was significant,” the spokesperson said on Feb. 29.
Prince George, Kate Middleton and King Charles after attending the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on December 25, 2023.Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty
Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty
The hype around when the Princess of Wales might return to royal duty made headlines on March 5 when the British Armylisted her nameas leading the annual review of soldiers at Horse Guards Parade in London on June 8. The review precedes theTrooping the Colourparade the following weekend, which Princess Kate has an extra special connection to this year. The Number 9 Company Irish Guards are leading the charge this year, and ashonorary colonelof the regiment, Kate would traditionally conduct the Colonel’s Review before Trooping.
The following day, however, the Princess of Wales’ office said they had not been consulted, and her name was pulled from the page selling tickets to the event.
Kate Middleton and Prince William at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade at Mons Barracks on March 17, 2023.Samir Hussein/WireImage
Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
Although Princess Kate hasn’t stepped out in public since her surgery, she wasspotted twiceriding in cars near Windsor, where she lives with her family and has spent most of her recovery period.
On Monday, Kate wasseen leaving Windsor Castlein a vehicle with Prince William hours afterapologizingfor “any confusion” around herMother’s Day photo, which marked the first official portrait of the royal since her procedure. Princess Kate released thesurprise statementafter multiple global photo agencies pulled the photo featuring Kate with her three kids due to suspicions of manipulation.
“Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,” she said. “I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day.”
source: people.com
