Princess Catherine has been seen for the first time since her abdominal surgery in January as she continues to recover at home.
The Princess of Wales has been out of the public eye since undergoing a planned procedure at the start of the year and rescheduling Royal duties until Easter.
In late February, a representative for the Princess had to make a statement to try and quell rumors that were rampant on social media after the Princess took a step back from public view.
"Kensington Palace clarified in January the expected recovery period for the princess and stated that we would only share important updates," her representative informed Page Six. "We continue to follow that directive."
Princess Catherine underwent abdominal surgery in January. Credit: Stephen Pond/GettyFollowing her surgery, Princess Catherine spent a total of 13 days at the London Clinic in January before returning to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to reunite with William and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
"The Princess of Wales has returned home to Windsor to continue her recovery from surgery. She is making good progress," Kensington Palace announced in a statement upon her release. "The Prince and Princess wish to say a huge thank you to the entire team at the London Clinic, especially the dedicated nursing staff, for the care they have provided."
In pictures obtained by the New York Post, Princess Catherine, 42, was seen seated in the passenger seat of an Audi driven by her mother, Carole, near Windsor Castle, in her first public sighting since leaving hospital.
Sporting a pair of sunglasses and a slight smile, Princess Catherine seemed to be attempting to maintain a low profile during her outing.
While Princess Catherines's husband, Prince William, 41, withdrew from attending a memorial service for his godfather, Greece’s late King Constantine II, on February 27 citing "a personal matter," the palace assured that Princess Catherine was "doing well" in the same statement.
Kensington Palace is seeking to dispel rumors about Princess Catherine's health. Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/GettyPrince William briefly touched upon the Princess's recovery at the 2024 BAFTA Film Awards, stating that he hadn't had much time to watch movies with her. "But hopefully, we’ll catch up, I’ll make my list tonight," he added.
Despite the palace's efforts to stop the rumors, misinformation has persisted. Reports from overseas journalists, including Concha Calleja, alleging severe health complications and an induced coma, were swiftly refuted by palace officials as "total nonsense," per the Daily Mail.
"No attempt was made by that journalist to fact-check anything that she said with anyone in the household," a Palace source stated. "It’s fundamentally, totally made-up, and I’ll use polite English here: It’s absolutely not the case."