Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, was spotted for the first time on Monday after disappearing from the public eye for months since December last year.
The British royal was reportedly photographed near Windsor Castle on the outskirts of London. The Princess of Wales sat in the passenger seat of an Audi driven by her mother Carole, a picture shows.
Kate has been out of the public eye since December, when she attended church services with her family. Kate tried to keep a low profile and wore sunglasses. The sighting comes as wild conspiracy theories about Middleton's whereabouts make the rounds online.
According to Kensington Palace, the 42-year-old was recovering at home from “planned abdominal surgery” in January.
On January 17, the Prince and Princess of Wales's office said in a statement that the royal would spend 10 to 14 days in hospital following the surgical procedure and later recover at home.
“Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to hospital yesterday for planned abdominal surgery. The surgery was successful and she is expected to remain in the hospital for 10 to 14 days before returning home to continue her recovery,” the statement read.
In recent days, however, the royal family's extended absence from public life has been a topic of conversation. While claims range from genuine concern to outlandish conspiracy theories, the most popular theory is that the queen suffered complications during her operation and was placed in an induced coma.
Kate's husband Prince William, who recently canceled a planned appearance at Windsor Castle due to a “personal matter,” has been seen alone at galas and events, an unusual sight.