The first photo of Kate, the Princess of Wales, since her abdominal surgery nearly two months ago was issued Sunday along with a statement thanking the public for its support.
The photo of her in a chair surrounded by her three children was credited to her husband, William, Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, and was said to be taken earlier in the week in Windsor.
害羞草研究所淭hank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months,害羞草研究所� Kate said on social media. 害羞草研究所淲ishing everyone a Happy Mother害羞草研究所檚 Day.害羞草研究所�
It follows weeks of wild speculation on social media about her whereabouts since she left a hospital Jan. 29 after a nearly two week stay following planned surgery. She hadn害羞草研究所檛 been seen publicly since Christmas Day.
The royal family has been under more scrutiny than usual in recent weeks, because both Kate and King Charles III can害羞草研究所檛 carry out their usual public duties because of health problems.
Royal officials say Charles is undergoing treatment for an unspecified form of cancer, which was discovered during treatment for an enlarged prostate. The monarch has canceled all his public engagements while he receives treatment, though he害羞草研究所檚 been photographed walking to church and meeting privately with government officials and dignitaries.
Kate, 42, underwent surgery Jan. 16 and her condition and the reason for the surgery have not been revealed, though Kensington Palace, Prince William and Kate害羞草研究所檚 office said it was not cancer-related.
Although the palace initially said it would only provide significant updates and that she would not return to royal duties before Easter 害羞草研究所� March 31 this year 害羞草研究所� it followed up with a statement last month amid the rumors and conspiracy theories by saying she was doing well and reiterating its previous statement.
害羞草研究所淜ensington Palace made it clear in January the timelines of the princess害羞草研究所� recovery and we害羞草研究所檇 only be providing significant updates,害羞草研究所� the palace said Feb. 29. 害羞草研究所淭hat guidance stands.害羞草研究所�
At the time, royal aides told The Sun newspaper: 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e 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.害羞草研究所�
Further questions were raised last week when the British military appeared to jump the gun in announcing Kate would attend a Trooping the Color ceremony in June, apparently without consulting palace officials.
The appearance would have been her first major official duty since the surgery but Kensington Palace didn害羞草研究所檛 confirm any scheduled public events for Kate. It害羞草研究所檚 up to palace officials, not government departments, to announce and confirm the royals害羞草研究所� attendance at events.
The army later removed the reference to her attendance.
British media reported that the army did not seek approval from Kensington Palace before publishing details about Kate害羞草研究所檚 appearance in June, and announced the event based on the expectation that Kate, in her role as Colonel of the Irish Guards, would inspect the troops this year at the annual military ceremony.
EDITOR害羞草研究所橲 NOTE: The photo attached to this story was later withdrawn by the Associated Press and other news agencies and Kate apologized for providing an edited photo. Read more about that here.
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