Kate Middleton hadn’t been seen in public since Christmas Day – until American news outlet TMZ suddenly caught the princess on camera on Monday. Although no British tabloid decided to publish the picture for several reasons, it has become the talk of the town, and even more questions are being raised about Kate’s health status. 

The Princess of Wales’ first public engagement after her surgery was announced yesterday by the Army. However, it didn’t take long before it was removed – and Kensington Palace has not yet confirmed it. Meanwhile, her uncle has decided to keep the lid on what she is up to. 

Several royal experts have spoken out on the newly taken paparazzi picture of Kate, and one of the main themes includes Kate suddenly becoming vulnerable. Some say having her picture taken was most likely the last thing Kate wanted, while another believes it shows a “depressing” truth about her current life. 

While there is still about a month left before Easter, which was initially said to be the end period for Kate’s recovery, news suggests that the princess is on her way back to everyday life.

First picture taken of Kate Middleton after surgery, published

On Monday, March 4, the American news site TMZ released the first picture of Kate Middleton to have been taken on Kate Middleton since her surgery. The princess hasn’t been spotted in public since Christmas Day, and in the new picture, Kate is seen wearing sunglasses in the passenger seat of a car.

Meanwhile, Kate Middleton has asked for privacy during her recovery phase, so no British tabloid has yet run the picture.

Since being admitted to the hospital on January 16 to undergo the planned abdominal surgery, Kate’s schedule has been entirely cleared. Now, her first outing after recovery has been confirmed.

On Wednesday, the Minister of Defense confirmed that Kate Middleton will attend the Trooping the Colour dress rehearsal ceremony on June 8, ahead of the main event on June 15. Kensington Palace is still to confirm the Princess of Wales’ presence at the event, and just hours later, it appears that it was a huge mistake.

As several British newspapers reported, Kate Middleton’s potential return to royal duty event has been deleted from an Army website. As per GB News, Kensington Palace was “not consulted” regarding the Princess of Wales’ appearance.

Many royal fans have been worried about Kate’s well-being, and some have demanded that the palace issue more updates on how she is doing. Meanwhile, a royal spokesperson said the palace “made it clear in January” that they would provide significant updates” only when necessary.

Royal expert blames the Palace for ‘fueling’ speculations about Kate Middleton

However, the first picture of Kate following the surgery, which TMZ published, has now led to many royal experts demanding that Kate and the palace act to address the situation as speculations grow.

Kensington Palace has fiercely protected Kate Middleton and her privacy as she is recovering from surgery. No pictures of her leaked as she left or arrived at the hospital, and even when she and her family traveled to their Anmer Hall estate in Sandringham some weeks ago, they did so without any photographers being in sight.

The fact that a picture of Kate has now been leaked is undoubtedly seen as a failure and disappointment for the palace.

Meanwhile, Newsweek’s chief royal correspondent Jack Royston argues that the government’s release of so little information—which the public has demanded—has contributed to the situation.

“The kind of secrecy that Kensington Palace brought to this situation fuelled completely feverish wild speculation online, and that creates the demand that means TMZ know that they’re going to make big bucks running these pictures because they know that huge numbers of people are going to go and click on this story,” Royston told Good Morning Britain on Tuesday.