What’s going on with Kate Middleton? Everything we know so far

The Princess of Wales has been the subject of fierce speculation in recent weeks (Picture: PA)

Kate Middleton has been seen out and about for the first time since Christmas Day before she had abdominal surgery in the middle of January. 

The Princess of Wales’ lack of public appearance has come as the Royal Family has been hit with health issues, including King Charles’ ongoing cancer battle and the death of Lady Gabriella Windsor’s husband Thomas Kingston.

Despite Kensington Palace repeatedly stating she will not be doing public engagements until Easter, increasingly frantic rumours over her disappearance have spread like wildfire.

On Mother’s Day, Kensington Palace released an image of Kate and her three children later pulled by news agencies for being manipulated – something Kate would later admit to.

So, where has Kate actually been, and what’s been going on? Here’s everything we know.

December 25

The Princess of Wales was last seen on Christmas Day with her family (Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage)

The last time Kate was seen in public was on Christmas Day at Sandringham in Norfolk.

She walked hand-in-hand with her husband and their children on their way to St Mary Magdalene Church.

January 16

Kate was admitted to The London clinic for abdominal surgery.

She remained there for two weeks, finally leaving on January 29.

While at the hospital, William was pictured visiting his wife once after it was announced he would take a step back from work as he focused on caring for his family.

Kate has been recovering at Adelaide Cottage in the grounds of Windsor since.

Prince William seen leaving The London Clinic after visiting his wife (Picture: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

February 27

William pulled out of memorial service for his late godfather King Constantine due to an undisclosed personal matter.

Kensington Palace would not elaborate further on why he could not attend.

But in a rare update on his wife Kate Middleton said she continues to be doing well following her operation.

This left Buckingham Palace scrambling to find others to take their place as the King continued to undergo cancer treatment.

February 29

William made his first public appearance after mysteriously cancelling the event.

The Prince of Wales visited the Western Marble Arch Synagogue in central London and spoke to ambassadors and holocaust survivors, offering both his and Kate Middleton’s concerns over antisemitism.

March 1

Kensington Palace released an update on Kate’s health in an attempt to put the ridiculous rumours of her disappearance to bed.

The Palace said: ‘Kensington Palace made it clear in January the timelines of the princess’ recovery and we’d only be providing significant updates. That guidance stands.’

March 2

Royal aides condemned the ‘madness of social media’ after speculation over Kate’s disappearance showed no sign of stopping.

Among the wild and wacky theories circulating online include her lying in a coma, undergoing the process of being cloned, waiting for a bad haircut to grow out and having ‘Brazilian butt lift’ work done.

Police officers stand guard outside the London Clinic after Kate underwent planned surgery (Picture: Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The aides told The Sun: ‘We were really clear from the start we weren’t going to provide a running commentary on the Princess of Wales’s health and only provide significant updates.

‘Obviously, we’ve seen the madness of social media and that is not going to change our strategy.

‘There has been much on social media but the Princess has a right to privacy and asks the public to respect that.’

March 4

Kate was spotted for the first time since her surgery in a car being driven by her mum Carole Middleton.

The photos, taken by TMZ, show her in a pair of sunglasses as she sat in the vehicle near Windsor Castle.

A witness told The Mirror: ‘It was a lovely sunny day and Kate was being driven by her mum.

‘The Princess was sitting in the passenger seat and wearing dark sunglasses but looked well as the two women were talking with one another.’

Meanwhile, William was asked during his visit to Wrexham AFC: ‘How’s Catherine?’

But the Prince of Wales failed to respond.

Pupils gave William a bouquet for Kate and he said: ‘I’ll pass them onto Catherine as well, thank you very much.’

March 5

Kate and other senior royals at Trooping the Colour last year (Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage)

The British Army was awkwardly made to admit it jumped the gun after saying on its website she would be appearing at Trooping the Colour in June.

Tickets were being sold on the website for the event saying she would be reviewing the troops.

Royal officials clarified that her attendance hadn’t been confirmed, with the Army removing the event page not long after.

March 10

Kensington Palace marked Mother’s Day by posting an official photograph of Kate and her three children, George, Charlotte and Louis, on her social media.

As Kate thanked well-wishers, royal watchers saw the photograph as the palace’s way to calm down the increasingly far-fetched speculation about the princess of Wales’ wellbeing.

But multiple news agencies issued a ‘kill order’ for the image (which asks clients to remove the photograph from their platforms) later that day, saying it had been doctored.

This only fanned frenzied speculation even further.

March 11

After half a day of silence from the royals, Kate apologised for the Mother’s Day photo, chalking up a few oddities to her photographer’s desire to retouch it.

‘Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,’ Catherine wrote.

‘I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused.’

Kensington Palace has also refused to release the unedited photograph.

Shortly after issuing a statement, the Princess of Wales was pictured leaving Windsor Castle in a black car with Prince William – as he made his way for a Commonwealth Day engagement that he attended solo.

March 17

Kate was replaced at the Irish Guards parade after she shared a St Patrick’s Day tribute from her social media.

From the Prince and Princess of Wales’s official X account, they said: ‘Happy St Patrick’s Day! Here’s a sneak peak of the Irish Guards rehearsing for their annual parade.

‘Sláinte to all those celebrating today!’

March 18

Footage released by The Sun shows Middleton captured on video for the first time since her surgery in January on a trip to a farm shop in Windsor.

The video shows the Duchess of Cambridge with her William a mile from her home at Adelaide Cottage on Saturday.

‘Kate was out shopping with William and she looked happy and she looked well,’ a customer told the tabloid.

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