The Princess of Wales, formerly known as Kate Middleton, has been seen in photos for the first time since Christmas, in a bombshell development in the long-running medical mystery surrounding her health.
The photos, published by TMZ and only seen in the US, show the princess on what the British tabloids call a “school run” in the passenger seat of a new black Audi Q7, with her mother Carole Middleton behind the wheel. It appeared that no royal protection officers were present.
Prior to Monday's sighting, the princess had not been seen as she was photographed with her family during Christmas celebrations at the royal retreat at Sandringham.
About three weeks after she was spotted at Sandringham, Kensington Palace shocked royal watchers everywhere on January 17 with a terse statement that the princess had undergone “abdominal surgery” and would remain in hospital for 14 days, and that ” “Based on the current medical status, my advice is: it is unlikely that she will return to public duties before Easter.”
Britain is concerned about the health of the Princess of Wales. Photo by Ming Yeung/Getty Images
The palace did not provide any further information about the princess's health, confusing the public. Doctors noted that most abdominal surgeries only require a few days' recovery time, and it was unclear why the princess's “abdominal surgery” would require such a long hospital stay or why her subsequent recovery would keep her out of sight until April at the earliest.
As the weeks went by, the palace's tight-lipped approach to the princess's health led to numerous conspiracy theories emerging, some of which were truly bizarre. Then, on February 27, the Prince of Wales withdrew from the memorial service for his godfather, the King of Greece, citing “a personal matter.”
Wrexham AFC Chairman Rob McElhenney and Prince William, Prince of Wales with his personalized Wrexham AFC jersey on the pitch at the Racecourse Ground following his visit to the Turf Pub near Wrexham AFC on March 1st 2024 Wrexham, Wales celebrates St. David's Day. Chris Jackson/Getty Images
This caused nothing short of hysteria among the princess's fans, who feared that the only way the prince could have backed out of something so important was if it affected the princess. Her name became one of the top trending topics on X, formerly Twitter, and a Reddit thread speculating about the princess' health received over 2,000 comments.
The uproar prompted the palace to issue a second statement, but it did little to allay fears.
King Charles' announcement that he had cancer shocked the United Kingdom and prompted his son, Prince Harry, to rush to London. Victoria Jones-Pool/Getty Images
“We have been clear from the outset that the Princess of Wales will be away until after Easter and Kensington Palace will only provide updates when there is something important,” the palace spokesman said.
An earlier statement from the palace on January 29 said tersely: “The Princess of Wales has returned to Windsor to continue her recovery from surgery. “She is making good progress.”
The princess's disappearance came amid a series of setbacks for the palace. Just days after Her Royal Highness' surgery, the Palace announced on February 5 that her father-in-law, King Charles III, had been diagnosed with an unnamed form of cancer, resulting in His Majesty taking a break from work duties.
In the king's absence, the queen's consort Camilla took center stage in the royal family's engagements, leading the royals at the memorial service for the Greek king. However, on Sunday, Camilla announced she would be taking a break from public appearances as media speculated the royal had “hit a wall.”
Queen Camilla smiles during a reception for the BBC's 500 Words finalists at Buckingham Palace on February 28, 2024 in London, England. Chris Jackson – Pool/Getty Images
A royal source told the Sunday Times that the queen “did not expect to take on the position of head of the family” but was “absolutely ready to do whatever needed to be done for the institution.”
The 76-year-old's next public appearance will be at Westminster Abbey on March 11 for the annual Commonwealth Day service, where she will represent the royal family.
Commonwealth services have previously been the subject of protests from anti-monarchy groups. In 2023, activists held signs outside the famous chapel reading “Not my King” as Charles walked past, seemingly unfazed.
Thomas Kingston with Pippa Middleton during the Queens Mother Champion Steeple Chase, March 14, 2013, in Cheltenham, England. Danny Martindale/Getty Images
As the Sun previously reported, the unrest in the royal family is not just limited to the immediate working members. The royal family was shocked last week by the suicide in the Cotswolds of Thomas Kingston, husband of Lady Gabriella Windsor, daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. Kingston, who reportedly dated Kate Middleton's sister Pippa in the 2010s, was found dead in his parents' home with a serious head injury and a gun.
Lady Gabriella is 56th in line to the throne and her parents, Prince Michael and Baroness Marie-Christine, currently live in Apartment 10 at Kensington Palace, just a stone's throw from the residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales.