It’s nearly three months into 2024, and there has been no official sighting of Kate Middleton. This lack of visibility is not unexpected, given that Kensington Palace disclosed in January that the Princess of Wales was recuperating from abdominal surgery. However, following the princess’s sharing of a manipulated family photo on Mother’s Day, a wave of conspiracy theories emerged online and gained widespread attention. Questions arose about the princess’s whereabouts and whether she was absent. The most effective way to dispel these speculations seemed to be for Middleton to make a public appearance, which has yet to happen. (Although, as per a report from the British tabloid The Sun, there have been alleged sightings of her at a farmers market in Windsor, England.)
There was speculation that the Princess might make an appearance on Easter Sunday, falling on March 31 this year. This speculation stemmed partly from the wording of Kensington Palace’s initial statement regarding Middleton’s health: “Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter,” a spokesperson stated. Additionally, the royal family traditionally attends Easter mass together at St. George’s Chapel on the Windsor Castle grounds. This event is usually well-covered and photographed by the press globally, presenting a natural opportunity for Middleton to re-enter the public eye.
Nonetheless, a recent report in the Times of London suggests that Middleton’s return to royal engagements will occur in mid-April. According to reporter Roya Nikkah, “By [indicating that the Princess would resume duties after Easter], they were referring to the end of their children’s school holidays, not the Easter weekend.” The children are scheduled to return to Lambrook School near Ascot on April 17, and it is anticipated that Kate will resume her public duties from that point onward. However, there is currently no indication of the timing or location of her first official engagement. During their children’s Easter break, William will also take a break from public duties.
In just a little over a month, the public will have a new royal photo to captivate their interest: Prince Louis will celebrate his sixth birthday on April 23. Traditionally, the family releases a portrait to commemorate the occasion, with Middleton often serving as the photographer. However, following her recent photo editing controversy—where multiple Photoshop errors prompted the AP to issue a “kill notice”—public trust in Kensington Palace has reached a new low. Consequently, the upcoming photo release carries significant importance as the Waleses endeavor to rebuild that trust.