A timeline of Kate Middleton’s absence from the public eye, from abdominal surgery to a cancer diagnosis
May 30, 20240
The royal family on Christmas Day 2023.
Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images
Kate joined the royal family for their annual walk from Sandringham in Norfolk, England, to attend a church service on Christmas Day.
The Princess of Wales walked with her children and husband to the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in one of her signature coatdresses, much like she did in years past.
On January 17, Kensington Palace announced Kate was in the hospital for “a planned abdominal surgery.”
“Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to hospital yesterday for planned abdominal surgery,” the statement read. “The surgery was successful, and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days, before returning home to continue her recovery. Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.”
Kensington Palace provided no additional information about what procedure Kate underwent, though the palace told the Associated Press the princess didn’t have cancer.
The statement also said Kate hoped “her personal medical information remains private” to help provide her children with “normality.”
“Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness’ progress when there is significant new information to share,” the statement went on to say.
Prince William was photographed visiting Kate at the hospital the following day.
Kensington Palace said on January 29 that Kate had returned to Windsor Castle.
King Charles III during the state tour of France in September 2023.
Samir Hussein – Handout/Getty Images
Buckingham Palace said in a statement that “a separate issue of concern was noted” during the king’s prostate procedure, and additional testing disclosed he has cancer. The palace didn’t disclose what form of cancer he was diagnosed with, though they said it wasn’t prostate cancer.
The statement also said that the king “commenced a schedule of regular treatments” and that although he would still be working from home, he would “postpone public-facing duties” per medical advice.
“His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer,” the statement also said.
Prince William returned to public duty on February 7.
Kate Middleton in 2023.
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
On February 9, the Daily Mail reported that Kate had joined her family at their home in Sandringham, Anmer Hall, for her children’s half-term holiday.
The outlet also reported that her recovery was going well at the time.
Kate wasn’t photographed during her trip from Windsor to Sandringham.
King Charles was photographed a few times throughout February, while Kate remained unseen.
King Charles and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Buckingham Palace on February 21.
ONATHAN BRADY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Although he isn’t taking on public-facing duties, King Charles has still been photographed a few times since his cancer diagnosis and the beginning of his treatment.
On February 11, he and Queen Camilla were spotted going to church in Sandringham, and he was photographed meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on February 21 at Buckingham Palace.
Kate, on the other hand, remained absent, as Kensington Palace released no photos or videos of her.
William released a rare solo statement on February 20.
March 10 was Mother’s Day in the UK, and to commemorate the occasion, Kensington Palace released the first official portrait of Kate since Christmas.
In the photo, Kate sits in a chair surrounded by her children, who are all giggling. According to the caption they shared on social media alongside the image, William took the picture of his family in 2024, and the photo appeared to come directly from Kate, as she signed the caption, “C,” which stands for Catherine.
“Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months,” she wrote. “Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day.”
But shortly after it was released, people began to speculate the photo had been edited. Photo editor Patrick Witty told BI’s Shubhangi Goel it was “astonishing” the palace released the photo at all because of issues in the image, pointing to areas where the picture is blurred and things that seemed to be added to the shot during the editing process, like a zipper on Kate’s jacket.
Later that day, multiple photo agencies removed the picture from their platforms.
Kate Middleton in September 2023.
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
On March 11, Kate addressed the controversy surrounding the photo in a statement released on social media, seeming to take responsibility for the manipulated image.
“Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,” she wrote on X. “I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day. C.”
Notably, the statement was signed by Kate alone. Kensington Palace typically speaks on behalf of the couple as a unit, and the royals said in their post on Sunday that William took the shot.
William and Kate were photographed together on March 11 before he attended a Commonwealth Day service.
Prince William attends a Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in March 2024.
Henry Nicholls – WPA Pool/Getty Images
A few hours after the princess posted on X, the Daily Mail released a photo of William and what appeared to be Kate in a car together leaving Windsor Castle.
Kate is looking out of the window in the shot, so only her profile is visible. According to the outlet, Kate was going to “a private appointment,” and William was en route to a Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.
William was photographed alongside Queen Camilla at the Commonwealth Day service after the photo of him and Kate was published.
Multiple tabloids released a video of what appeared to be Kate and William shopping in Windsor on March 18.
On March 17, The Sun reported that William and Kate were spotted shopping at a “farm shop” near Adelaide Cottage, their home on the grounds of Windsor Castle. But The Sun’s coverage didn’t include any images of the prince and princess.
Then, on March 18, TMZ and The Sun released a video of what appeared to be William and Kate walking through the market, holding shopping bags.
The video was grainy, and Kensington Palace did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider on the matter.
On March 22, Kate announced she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy in a video, speaking directly to the public.
Prince William speaks to two people in Sicily, Italy, in May 2024.
WPA Pool/Getty Images
Since her video announcement, Kensington Palace has not released an official update on Kate’s health.
But on May 10, William said Kate was “doing well” when asked about her health in a video recorded by Sky News.
Kate won’t be attending a rehearsal for Trooping the Colour on June 8.
Catherine, Princess of Wales travels down The Mall in a horse drawn carriage during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023.
Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images
On Thursday, Buckingham Palace confirmed to the BBC that King Charles will attend Trooping the Colour, his official birthday celebration, on June 15.
Kate became Colonel of the Irish Guards in 2022, inheriting the title from Prince William. As the Colonel, she oversees the Colonel’s Review, a rehearsal for the Trooping the Colour ceremony.
The 2024 Colonel’s Review will take place on June 8, but Kate won’t oversee the rehearsal this year. Instead, General James Bucknall will do the service for her.
Kensington Palace has not announced if Kate will attend the Trooping the Colour parade.
