Princess Kate Middleton  appeared in a new photo on March 10, 2024, which was the first official image shared of the royal in 2024. Before resurfacing in the social media post, Kate had been absent from the public eye for months, leaving fans curious about where she was and whether she was OK following her hospitalization for surgery in January 2024.

Where Is Kate Middleton After Surgery?

The Princess of Wales has been spending time at home recovering from her January 16, 2024, abdominal surgery. She was discharged from the hospital on January 29, 2024, and the palace confirmed that she returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, where she lives with husband Prince William and their three kids, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

“She is making good progress,” the palace’s statement confirmed. “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. The Wales family continues to be grateful for the well wishes they have received from around the world.”

On February 9, 2024, Kate quietly left Windsor to spend time with her family at Anmer Hall on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. She and her family reportedly took the trip while the kids were on a break from school, according to People. 

It is believed that Kate returned home to Windsor to continue her recovery in private after the trip. On March 4, 2024, photographers snapped photos of the princess riding in the front seat of a car near Windsor. Her mom, Carole Middleton, was driving the vehicle. Kate appeared to have a small smile on her face as she kept a low profile by wearing sunglasses during the outing.

Less than one week later, Kate broke her silence on March 10, 2024, with her first social media post since surgery. In honor of Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom, she shared a photo of herself with her three children. “Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months,” she captioned the image. “Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day. C.”
She credited Prince William as the photographer and royal reporter Rebecca English confirmed that the image was “taken in Windsor earlier this week.”

Kate is not expected to return to her royal duties until after Easter on March 31, 2024, according to a statement from Kensington Palace.

What Surgery Did Kate Middleton Have?

Kate underwent a “planned abdominal surgery” on January 16, 2024. The palace announced the news about her health the following day.

“The surgery was successful, and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days, before returning home to continue her recovery,” the statement said. 

Why Was Kate Middleton Rarely Seen After Surgery?

In the palace’s first statement about Kate’s condition, it was revealed that the princess wanted to keep her medical treatment as private as possible. 

“The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate,” Kensington Palace’s statement said. “She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.”

As Kate remained out of the public eye for weeks, fans began to speculate that the family wasn’t telling the truth about what was going on. Conspiracy theories flooded the internet and were intensified after William pulled out of a royal engagement on February 27, 2024, for unspecified “personal reasons.”

The speculation was shut down by Kate’s rep on February 29, 2024. “Kensington Palace made it clear in January the timelines of the princess’ recovery and we’d only be providing significant updates,” the rep told In Touch. “That guidance stands.”

How Is Kate Middleton Doing After Surgery?

Kate’s rep confirmed that she was “doing well” on February 29, 2024.

Kensington Palace shared a similar sentiment two days prior, confirming, “Princess of Wales, who is recovering from abdominal surgery, continues to be doing well.”

Kate’s uncle, Gary Goldsmith, who is one of the cast members from Celebrity Big Brother U.K. season 4, spoke about his niece’s recovery to fellow contestant Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu but remained guarded with the information he revealed.

“Can I ask you a question? Where’s Kate?” Ekin-Su asked Gary in a clip shared online.

“Because she doesn’t want to talk about it, the last thing I’m going to do is [talk about it],” Gary replied. “There is a kind of code or etiquette. If it’s announced, I’ll give you an opinion.”

However, Gary did add that Kate was getting the “best care in the world” after he revealed that he had spoken to Kate’s mom, Carole Middleton, and her sister, Pippa Middleton.

“All the family has put the wagons down and [are looking] after the family first before anything else,” Gary said. “They said, ‘She’s going to take some time to recoup and we’ll see you at Easter.’”

When Was Kate Middleton Last Seen in Public Before Surgery?

Kate’s last public appearance before surgery was on Christmas Day 2023. She attended a church service at Sandringham with her family. Before that, she made several public appearances throughout the month of December 2023. 

Once 2024 began, Kate kept a low profile. She celebrated her 42nd birthday on January 9, 2024, but had a small, private celebration and was not seen in public on the big day.

As for her return to public, royal fans were met with a nice surprise when the British Army named Kate as one of the royals who would attend a Trooping the Colour event on June 8, 2024. Shortly after the announcement was made in March 2024, however, Kate’s name was quickly removed from the army’s website, as the palace did not authorize the statement. It remains unclear when Kate will make her first public appearance of the year.