After nearly three months away from the public eye following her abdominal surgery, speculation has been rife about when Kate Middleton will make her return to royal duties. Reports have suggested various possible return dates for the Duchess of Cambridge, including a potential appearance with the royal family on Easter or a return after her children go back to school in April. However, Kensington Palace has not confirmed any specific appearance yet.
There are conflicting reports about Kate’s potential return, with some suggesting she could take part in the royal family’s annual walk to church on Easter, while others claim she may be planning a “big bang” return on the same day. Kensington Palace had previously stated that Kate would likely return to public duties after Easter, based on medical advice. Other reports have pointed to a possible return after April 17, when her children are scheduled to go back to school following their holiday break.
In addition to her potential public appearances, Kate and Prince William are expected to release a picture of their son Louis on his sixth birthday on April 23, as they have done in previous years. This picture, which is typically taken by Kate herself, will likely face increased scrutiny following Kate’s admission that she edited a picture of her family that she released on Mother’s Day last year.
Despite her almost three-month absence from royal duties, Kensington Palace has maintained that Kate is doing well. The palace has provided updates on her progress, including stating that she was making “good progress” upon returning home for recovery after her surgery. The palace also dismissed a conspiracy theory suggesting Kate was placed in a coma as “ludicrous” and “total nonsense.” However, the reported sightings of Kate in public have only fueled further speculation, with the palace neither confirming nor denying the veracity of the sightings.
In a surprising turn of events, the Ministry of Defence listed Kate as an attendee for the upcoming Trooping the Colour event in June but later removed her from the webpage after promoting the event. This would have been her first scheduled appearance since her surgery. Kate’s absence from royal duties has sparked widespread speculation and conspiracy theories about her whereabouts, with her last public appearance being on Christmas at a church service with the royal family.
The U.K.’s privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner’s Office, has announced an investigation into a potential breach of Kate’s medical records after reports that a staffer at the London Clinic attempted to access her health information. U.K. Health Minister Maria Caulfield called the breach “pretty severe and serious stuff,” emphasizing the importance of patient privacy. Despite the ongoing speculation surrounding her return to public life, Kate Middleton continues to focus on her recovery and well-being as she prepares for a potential return to royal duties in the coming weeks.
