Kensington Palace has shared the first post-surgery photo of the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, on Instagram, with a caption expressing gratitude for the support during her recovery.
This comes after the Ministry of Defence faced criticism for prematurely announcing Kate’s attendance at the upcoming Trooping The Colour event, prompting Kensington Palace to clarify its protocol.
Kate Middleton Thanks The Public In Mother’s Day Post
Kensington Palace recently unveiled the first official image of Kate Middleton following her abdominal surgery in January.
In the photo, which was uploaded to the Prince and Princess of Wales’ official Instagram page, Kate sat in a chair, embracing her daughter, Princess Charlotte, and youngest son, Prince Louis. Prince George, on the other hand, stood behind, enveloping his mother in a warm hug.
All four were dressed in casual denim attire. Her husband, Prince William, took the family photo at their home in Windsor.
In the caption, the princess shared a heartfelt Mother’s Day message, writing: “Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day.” She signed off the message with a “C” for Catherine.
Fans React To The Princess of Wales’ Surprise Photo
In the comments, fans showered the royal family with love and appreciation for the surprise photo, with many expressing relief over Kate’s health.
One person wrote, “OMG. You always have the best surprise for us. We missed you so much so it’s great to see. Hope you’re feeling so much better. This picture taken by Williams is so beautiful and radiates happiness. Happy Mother’s Day.”
A second commenter admired the picture, particularly highlighting Princess Charlotte’s resemblance to the Princess of Wales. They wrote: “What a perfect photo. Princess Charlotte is looking like the Princess of Wales in each photo we see. God bless this beautiful family.”
Another well-wisher extended Mother’s Day greetings, adding: “Happy Mother’s Day! I hope you’re continuing to do well and heal with the love and support of your family.”
However, among the comments of support, one person expressed concern about the Princess of Wales’ health, stating: “What is going on?? She’s so weak. She can’t stand, and to make a public appearance, she has to wrap herself in her children like a blanket. She’s frail.. what on earth has happened?”
Kate Middleton’s Uncle Says She Is Getting The ‘Best Care In The World’
Before the official photo, Kate was first publicly sighted last Monday since she temporarily withdrew from royal duties after undergoing abdominal surgery on January 16.
The paparazzi shots, obtained by TMZ, showed the mom of three wearing sunglasses while riding in a black Audi alongside her mother, Carole Middleton.
Days later, Kate’s uncle, Gary Goldsmith, reassured the public on “Celebrity Big Brother” that his niece was getting the “best care in the world.”
When quizzed about Kate’s whereabouts, Goldsmith replied: “Because she doesn’t want to talk about… The last thing I’m going to do is… there’s a kind of code of etiquette. If it’s announced, I’ll give you an opinion.”
He emphasized the family’s focus on Kate’s well-being, adding: “And all the family’s done is put the wagons round and look after the family first before anything else. They put a statement out and just said, ‘She’s taking some time to recoup and will see you in Easter.’”
Ministry Of Defense Takes Down Claim Of Kate Middleton’s Appearance At Trooping The Colour Event
Following Kate’s recent paparazzi appearance, the Ministry of Defence faced backlash and swiftly removed a claim from its website regarding the Princess of Wales attending the Trooping The Colour event.
Ticket sales for a “practice” parade on June 8, featuring Kate as honorary colonel of the Irish Guards, were halted amid speculation that the MoD acted prematurely without palace approval.
Kensington Palace clarified they were not “consulted” on the announcement and emphasized that any official engagements for the princess would be confirmed “only” by them. They added that while Kate’s recovery progresses, her return to public duties is not expected until after Easter.
Additionally, the MoD website mentioned King Charles III’s potential attendance on June 15, but Buckingham Palace has not confirmed this, though no changes to the website were made in this regard.