Norfolk, England – The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, has been noticeably absent from the public eye since Christmas. Reports emerged that she underwent a planned abdominal surgery in January, prompting Kensington Palace to announce that she would be recovering until after Easter. Despite the palace’s assurances of her well-being, social media users have expressed skepticism about her prolonged absence.
Following her surgery, Middleton made her most recent public appearance on Christmas, joining the royal family for their annual walk to a church service at Sandringham in Norfolk. However, since then, she has not been seen in public, fueling speculation and questions about her condition.
On January 17, Kensington Palace revealed that Middleton was in the hospital for a planned surgery, which was successful. She was expected to remain in the hospital for up to two weeks before returning home to continue her recovery. The palace did not disclose the specifics of the procedure but emphasized that Middleton’s privacy regarding her medical information was crucial for providing a sense of normality for her children.
On January 29, the palace announced that Middleton had returned home to Windsor Castle to continue her recovery, with Prince William thanking the staff at The London Clinic for their care. Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace revealed on February 5 that King Charles had been diagnosed with cancer, prompting a schedule of regular treatments for the monarch.
Prince William, amidst his family’s health challenges, resumed his public duties on February 7 by attending an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. He later expressed concern for the ongoing conflict in Gaza in a rare solo statement released by Kensington Palace. Additionally, the prince missed a Service of Thanksgiving on February 20 for personal reasons, sparking speculation and further interest in Middleton’s prolonged absence.
Throughout February, as King Charles was photographed multiple times, Middleton remained unseen, leading to continued social media chatter and speculation. Despite the interest in her whereabouts, Kensington Palace had not released any new updates or images of Middleton as of Wednesday. The royal family’s health challenges and William’s absence from the Service of Thanksgiving have kept public interest high in the absence of Middleton from the public eye.