Britain's Princess Catherine of Wales was seen in public on Monday for the first time since her abdominal surgery in mid-January, according to photos published by US media portal TMZ.
The 42-year-old princess, whose husband Prince William is heir to the British throne, has been mostly recovering at her home in Windsor, west of London, since she was discharged from hospital on January 29.
Photos published by TMZ showed Kate wearing sunglasses while riding in a car. The celebrity news site said they were taken near Windsor Castle on Monday.
British media outlets such as Chron and The Sun have decided not to publish the photos.
“We are not letting her walk out of respect for her privacy while she recovers from her operation within the time frame we were given,” ITV News royal editor Chris Ship said on X, formerly Twitter.
The sighting comes at a time when conspiracy theories are circulating on social media about the famously hard-working and dutiful princess' absence from the spotlight.
The speculation came despite Kensington Palace clearly saying at the time of her operation that it was unlikely she would “return to public duties before Easter.”
It also said the surgery was not related to cancer.
Last week, William opted out of attending a memorial service, citing a “personal matter” and fueling further rumors.
Kensington Palace declined to elaborate on the last-minute withdrawal but said Kate remained “doing well.”
Kate's hospitalization came almost simultaneously with the announcement that William's father, King Charles, had undergone surgery for a benign prostate condition and was subsequently diagnosed with an unrelated cancer.
The 75-year-old king has also stepped back from public duties during his treatment, although he has attended church services and held his weekly audience with the prime minister.
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