The Princess of Wales has touchingly revealed how she is reassuring her young children amid her battle with cancer after the announcement she is fighting the disease.

The mother-of-three says she and Prince William have explained the situation to their children George, Charlotte and Louis, after the ‘huge shock’ of her diagnosis.

Princess Catherine said had told them she is doing ‘well and getting stronger every day’ and that she was ‘focusing on the things that will help me heal’.

The 42-year-old also revealed that she was comforted by having her husband by her side, and that they were doing ‘everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family’.

In a televised address, the future Queen revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer after undergoing a successful abdominal operation in January, and that doctors have advised her to undergo preventative chemotherapy.

Pictured: The Princess of Wales holding the hand of her daughter Charlotte as she walks to Christmas Day service in Sandringham, Norfolk, alongside her sons George and Louis, her husband Prince William and Mia Tindall on December 25, last year

Pictured: The Princess of Wales attends the Together At Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey with her husband Prince William and their children George, Charlotte and Louis, on December 8 last year

Speaking from a bench surrounded by daffodils and spring blossom, the Princess of Wales revealed her shock diagnosis this evening.

‘I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have been recovering from surgery,’ she said.

‘It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful.’

Kensington Palace has said it will not be sharing details of what kind of cancer the princess has, or what stage of cancer it is and has asked people not to speculate. 

The future Queen revealed that she and her husband have been focusing on their children during this difficult time. 

She said: ‘But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok. 

‘As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits. 

‘Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. 

‘As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.’

It is understood that the King – who is also currently undergoing cancer treatment himself – and the Queen have both been informed of the news. 

Earlier she revealed that she had been diagnosed with cancer after undergoing a planned operation at The London Clinic two months ago. 

The Princess of Wales pictured attending the Together At Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey on December 8, last year

The diagnosis took place after the future Queen underwent abdominal surgery at The London Clinic in January. Pictured: Police officers stand guard outside the building on January 28

‘In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous,’ she said.

‘The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present. 

‘My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.’

The Princess of Wales added that the news had left the family shaken and they have been coming to terms with her diagnosis in private. 

She said: ‘This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. 

‘As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment.’

Catherine added that she and her family would like privacy while she battles the disease.

She said: ‘We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment. 

‘My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery. 

‘At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. 

‘For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.’

Sitting on a bench at Windsor, surrounded by spring flowers, the Princess of Wales has taken the extraordinary step of revealing to the world that she has cancer

The Prince and Princess of Wales were seen together last week as William went to the The Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey

This evening’s announcement will send shockwaves around the world and came after weeks of speculation – and wild conspiracy theories – about her health. It also creates a fresh crisis for the British Royal Family at a time where King Charles is also battling cancer. In January Sarah, the Duchess of York, was diagnosed with skin cancer, just six months after being treated for breast cancer.

It comes after sick social media trolls spent weeks spreading wild rumours about her wellbeing as palace aides refused to comment on her recovery from abdominal surgery in January.

The princess is now on what has been described as a ‘recovery pathway’ having commenced a course of chemotherapy in late February.

It is for this reason that Prince William pulled out of a memorial service for his late godfather, King Constantine of Greece.

Kensington Palace has strongly asked people not to speculate on what cancer she has.

However they say that she is in ‘good spirits and focused on her recovery’.

‘She is hugely grateful to the medical team for the care they are providing to her,’ a spokesman said.

‘She now needs time, space and privacy to complete her treatment and make a full recovery.’

It is understood that the announcement was made tonight not because of unpleasant social media speculation about her health and whereabouts – although that has been upsetting and unpleasant – but because her children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louise, five, broke up from school today, which gave them the opportunity to take them away privately and protect them from the inevitable public shock.

A spokesman for the princess said: ‘We will not be sharing any further private medical information. The Princess has a right to medical privacy, as we all do.’

However her spokesman confirmed: ‘The Princess is now on a recovery pathway having commenced a course of preventative chemotherapy…in late February.’

The palace will not confirm how long her treatment is expected to last and has asked the media and public not to speculate.

Catherine, Princess of Wales attends the opening of Evelina London’s new children’s day surgery unit on December 5

The Princess of Wales arrives at the Shaping Us National Symposium at the Design Museum on November 15

Kate’s cancer is for this reason that Prince William pulled out of a memorial service for his late godfather, King Constantine of Greece (pictured)

It also said it would not confirm where her treatment would be taking place, a spokesman adding: ‘We will not be sharing any further private medical information. The Princess has a right to medical privacy, as we all do.’

Asked when the princess was given the news by her doctors, a spokesman explained: ‘Once post-operative tests had been completed and results reviewed.’

They added: ‘The Princess wanted to share this information when she and The Prince felt it was right for them as a family. ‘

A source said it had been ‘an incredibly tough couple of months for the entire family’ and it had been important for the princess to come to terms with her diagnosis, to recover form her surgery and begin her pathway to recovery.

Throughout this period the couple’s children have been her priority.

It is understood that William and Kate wanted to tell their children at a time that was right for them and to allow them to understand and process the news before it became public.

With the children having broken up from Lambrook School today for the Easter holidays this afternoon, they decided that now was the right time to share the statement.

Sources say their concern recently, despite global and social media speculation, was to put Catherine’s health and their children first.

It is now hoped, aides said, the speculation around the princess comes to a stop.

Catherine is apparently determined to go about her normal routine, which she sees as an important part of her recovery, and has asked for people to respect her privacy. 

Prince William found out his wife Kate had cancer before he pulled out of attending King Constantine of Greece’s memorial service.

The Prince of Wales’s absence from the St George’s Chapel event at Windsor Castle on February 27 had raised eyebrows, but tonight’s revelation about the princess’s health has shed new light on why he stayed away.

Kate had only just been diagnosed with cancer ahead of beginning chemotherapy, it was revealed tonight – after Buckingham Palace had initially said the previous month her condition was non-cancerous.

Royal aides are now expected to rally around William all the more as he steps back from frontline duties and looks after the couple’s children as his wife recuperates.

The prince has already been adjusting his royal duties to devote even more time to his family after Kate was first admitted to the London Clinic in January.

Prince Andrew led the way as other Royal Family members attended the event on February 27

William’s wife Kate has revealed tonight she has been diagnosed with cancer

The couple have both been dedicated to doing their fair share of the school run each morning and afternoon since their three children began attending £24,000-a-year Lambrook School near Ascot in Berkshire in September 2022.

The co-ed institution is not far from the family’s Frogmore Cottage home on the Windsor estate – and is also convenient for visits by the princess’s parents.

Carole and Michael Middleton live just 33 miles away in Bucklebury, Berkshire, and the strong mother-daughter bond has been a key feature of troubled recent months.

Kate’s siblings Pippa, 40, and James, 36, are also close at hand in Bucklebury. 

William’s decision not to attend the memorial service for King Constantine came as a surprise at the time, with the reason described as ‘personal reasons’.

Also missing was his father King Charles, himself receiving treatment for cancer.

Queen Camilla was instead the most senior member of the Royal Family in attendance, with William’s uncle Prince Andrew also enjoying a prominent role as he led fellow royals on foot to the service.

Constantine was the godfather of William, who is said to have called the Greek royal family to apologise for not being there. 

Britain’s Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York, smiling while arriving at the memorial service for King Constantine of Greece on February 27

Prince William and Kate Middleton with King Constantine at Windsor Castle in 2012

King Constantine (left) pictured after Prince William’s confirmation as one of his godparents

King Constantine attends church with Charles and Camilla at Sandringham in 2007

The Prince was due to read from Revelation 21:1-7, a popular reading for funerals that begins ‘Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth’.

He had cleared his diary of official duties to help support Kate’s recovery, although did visit a homelessness charity’s base in Sheffield on Tuesday this week.

The couple were seen being driven from Windsor on March 11, although only William attended that afternoon’s Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in central London while Kate continued on to a private appointment elsewhere.

Their children Prince George, 10, eight-year-old Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, five, all attend Lambrook School which starts its summer term on April 17. 

Royal experts have said the parents chose Lambrook because they wanted their children to have a ‘different kind of schooling’ to their own. 

George and Charlotte were previously pupils at Thomas’s Battersea while Louis attended Willcocks Nursery in Kensington, both schools in London.

William and Kate were pictured strolling into Lambrook School’s grounds hand-in-hand with their children for their first day there in September 2022.

They are believed to have been sharing ‘school run’ duties but William has now been taking on more responsibilities – as have Kate’s parents Carole, 69, and Michael, 74.

The Prince and Princess of Wales accompanied their children George, Louis and Charlotte for their first day at Lambrook School in Berkshire in September 2022

The Princess of Wales has previously been praised for her hands-on and ‘down-to-earth’ parenting style

Kate was seen with her family attending church at Sandringham on Christmas Day last year

Kate’s parents Michael and Carole on the royal balcony during their daughter’s 2011 wedding

All three children attend the prestigious Lambrook School in Berkshire

William and Kate and family live at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor (file picture)

Earlier this month Carole was snapped at the wheel of a car driving her daughter – pictured for the first time in two months – around Windsor Castle.

The photos were published by US gossip website TMZ but not in the UK after Kensington Palace appealed for her to be able to recuperate in private.

Insiders who knew the Middleton children at school have said her family was renowned for ‘doing everything to the very highest of standards’.

A fellow parent told Tatler recently: ‘There were huge picnics on sports days, the smartest tennis rackets — that kind of thing.

‘It made the rest of us all feel rather hopeless. Ultimately, Carole has played a blinder as a mother – not only are all of her children unfairly good-looking, they are also famously charming.

‘Always the first to write a thank-you letter, they dance all night and are still the first up in the morning, plumping cushions and washing up.’

Two years ago, Carole and Michael Middleton made a sombre appearance as they joined senior members of the Royal Family for the late Queen Elizabeth II’s committal service. 

Months later, they were seen in high spirits as they arrived at Westminster Abbey for the coronation of King Charles III – arriving alongside their children Pippa and James.

The Duke of Cambridge (pictured at the wheel) take his three children on the school run

William quipped he was dropping off his ‘gang’ of children during a chat with the headmaster of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis’ school Lambrook in 2022

Kate was admitted to the London Clinic in January this year for abdominal surgery 

She is known to be close with her mother, pictured together shopping in London

Michael and Carole pictured in the Royal Box on day nine of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships 

Carole and Kate Middleton also attended the races together here in 2017 

Kate’s mother has also always been on hand to support Kate for her annual ‘Together At Christmas’ Carol Service – a known passion project of the princess’s. 

Other get-togethers have seen the mother and daughter huddled up alongside each other at Royal Ascot – and in summer 2022, Kate was seen blowing her parents a kiss as the family attended Wimbledon.

Kate, William and their children have their main home as four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor grounds in Berkshire, with no live-in staff although they do have a nanny, housekeeper and security team living nearby.

The Grade II listed property is owned by the Crown Estate and the couple are said to be paying ‘market rent’.

Lambrook School has just 610 boys and girls aged three to 13 and is mixed so all three children can attend together, cutting down on school runs and security teams.

It offers boarding but George, Charlotte and Louis have all been day pupils there.

The Good Schools Guide says the prep school has a ‘heart of gold’ and offers pupils ‘total freedom to explore, provided you’ve got your wellies on’.

It boasts of ‘first-class teaching and superb facilities’ including a 25-metre swimming pool, a nine-hole golf course, an Astroturf, squash court and a new £6million Queen’s Building for ICT and academic learning.

Prince William and Kate were seen leaving Windsor together on March 11 this year 

The previous day Kensington Palace had released the first picture of Kate since her surgery

William waved to a cheering crowd in Sheffield on Tuesday when returning to royal duties

The prospectus quotes one parent calling it ‘the most magical place for our children to spend time, and they can often be seen rosy-cheeked and perfecting handstands, throwing balls or racing to the three stumps’.

School sources have described William and Kate as being ‘like a normal mum and dad’ who throw themselves into events at Lambrook. 

Hello! magazine reported the royal couple take part in all the important school activities, including ‘queueing for the tombola’ in a recent fundraising drive.

The future King and Queen are described as discreetly slipping into events such as carol concerts, fitting occasions around their busy schedules.

The Princess of Wales today said she is ‘doing well’ as she bravely opened up about her cancer diagnosis.

Kate Middleton, 42, was admitted to a London hospital in January for a planned operation and returned to Windsor to continue her recovery.

However, doctors discovered an unspecified form of cancer in tests taken after her surgery.

Today, Kate revealed in a video message that the diagnosis ‘came as a huge shock’ but she was now in the ‘early phase’ of preventive chemotherapy treatment.

Here MailOnline describes her health history.

The Prince and Princess of Wales were spotted together last week as William attended The Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey

The Princess of Wales with her children in her Mother’s Day portrait, which has now taken on significance given her diagnosis

A two-inch scar on the head

Kate has a three-inch scar on the left side of her head, dating from childhood.

It was first noticed in 2011 when the Princess officiated her first solo royal engagement at a private black tie dinner at Clarence House.

It was confirmed that it was the result of a surgery performed when she was a young child.

An official statement explained that “the scar was related to a pediatric operation,” but that the details of the operation were a private matter.

Royal sources confirmed it had been ‘a very serious operation’ but declined to comment further.

However, surgeons said at the time that the scar is unlikely to be the result of a tumor and may have been caused by the removal of a mole.

Kate’s scar was first noticed when she attended a dinner at Clarence House in 2011

A statement explained that the scar, which was normally hidden, was from a childhood operation

Morning sickness

The princess was hospitalized for three days in 2012 due to severe morning sickness while pregnant with Prince George.

She was admitted to King Edward VII’s Hospital, a private hospital in Marylebone used by the royal family for more than a century.

Kate suffered a recurrence of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) while pregnant with Princess Charlotte in 2014 and Prince Louis in 2018.

This condition caused the princess to announce her later two pregnancies prematurely, before reaching the crucial twelve-week stage.

However, while she was transporting Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, she was cared for at Kensington Palace rather than hospital.

HG can lead to severe dehydration and puts both mother and baby at risk of being deprived of essential nutrients because they are unable to keep food and drink down.

Patients can vomit up to 30 times a day, with exhausting and dangerous consequences.

Kate revealed in 2020 that she used meditation and deep breathing to manage her symptoms.

Abdominal surgery

The princess was scheduled for major abdominal surgery in January and spent two weeks in hospital.

Kate was admitted to the London Clinic in Marylebone and returned home to Windsor to continue her recovery with the support of her family.

At the time, her condition was not thought to be cancerous but no other details of the operation were given.

She was advised to recover for two to three months.

Her absence from the public eye sparked a social media firestorm and a number of baseless conspiracy theories.

It was alleged that at least one employee of the London Clinic tried to access her medical records.

Three employees have been suspended while the hospital investigates the claims.

Kensington Palace announced in January that the Princess of Wales had undergone abdominal surgery

Police officers today stand outside the London Clinic where Kate is staying after the operation

In a video message released today, Kate said her medical team had advised her to undergo a preventive course of chemotherapy. “This obviously came as a huge shock, and William and I have done everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family,” she added.

The Princess of Wales said her family (pictured together on December 25) ‘need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment’

Cancer diagnosis

The princess announced today that she is in the “early stages” of treatment for an unspecified form of cancer.

No tests prior to her abdominal surgery had confirmed the presence of cancer.

However, doctors discovered the disease in tests taken after her surgery.

In a video message released today, Kate said her medical team had advised her to undergo a preventive course of chemotherapy.

“This obviously came as a huge shock, and William and I have done everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family,” she added.

“I am doing well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal: in my mind, body and spirit,” she said.

Kate also recognized others whose lives have been impacted by cancer.

“To anyone facing this disease in any form, please do not lose faith and hope. You are not alone.’

Kate’s battle with cancer in her own words: Full emotional video statement from the Princess of Wales

I wanted to take this opportunity to personally thank you for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding while I was recovering from surgery.

It’s been an incredibly tough few months for our whole family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful.

In January I had major abdominal surgery in London and at the time my condition was deemed to be non-cancerous. The operation was successful. However, tests after the surgery revealed that cancer was present. My medical team therefore recommended that I undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.

This obviously came as a huge shock, and William and I have done everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.

As you can imagine, this has taken time. It took me time to recover from major surgery before I could start my treatment. But the most important thing is that it took us time to explain everything

George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that suits them, and to reassure them that I will be fine.

As I told them; I am doing well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirit.

Having William by my side is also a great source of comfort and reassurance. As does the love, support and kindness shown by so many of you. It means so much to both of us.

We hope you understand that we as a family now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.

At this time I also think of all those whose lives have been touched by cancer. To anyone facing this disease in any form, please do not lose faith and hope. You are not alone.

Lockdown baby Lucas Tindall is often pictured putting on an adorable performance while petting horses with his horse-obsessed mother, Zara.

But it turns out that Lucas, three today, looks like his parents in more ways than one…

Father and former England rugby player Mike Tindall earned himself the title of ‘cool, fun uncle’ at the platinum anniversary celebrations as he donned a matching beige suit and entertained an unruly Prince Louis.

But he is also known for his characterful facial expressions and it seems he has passed on his frown to his youngest son.

Mike and Lucas Tindall at last year’s Wellington International Horse Trials in Heckfield

Twins! The pair appeared to have the same focus as they supported Zara at the 2022 Burnham Market International Horse Trials in Norfolk

As the pair cheered on Zara at the Barefoot Retreats Burnham Market International Horse Trials in Norfolk last year, young Lucas’s furrowed brow and concerned look bore an uncanny resemblance to his father.

Mike and his wife Zara, the niece of King Charles III, share three children – Mia, ten, Lena, five, and Lucas, three – who became 24th in line to the throne after Princess Eugenie announced she is expecting a baby in the summer .

Meanwhile, Mike announced the birth of their youngest child on The Good, The Bad and the Rugby podcast and called his wife a “warrior” after she had to give birth to Lucas on the bathroom floor of their home on the Gatcombe Park estate. .

The couple organized childcare for Mia and Lena after Zara had contractions the night before but they didn’t have time to get to the hospital.

Mike recalled, “He was run into the gym, get a mat, go to the bathroom, towels down, brace brace brace!”

‘Luckily the midwife who was supposed to meet us at the hospital wasn’t that far away, so she drove up, got there exactly as we had assumed the position, and then the second midwife arrived just after the head had arrived!’

When asked how Zara was doing, he replied: ‘As any man will say, she was a warrior, as always. They always are.

“We can never judge a woman by what they go through during labor, so… no, she was awake again, we took him for a walk this morning, and yeah, all good.”

But Mike said she was in so much pain she ‘almost choked me to death’ when speaking about Lucas’ birth during his appearance on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! in 2022.

Mother Zara Tindall gave birth to Lucas on the bathroom floor. They are pictured together at the Burnham Market Horse Trials

Lucas appears to have inherited his mother’s natural way with horses, as he shows at the 2022 Festival of British Eventing

At the event, a blonde-haired Lucas is pictured wearing a blue polo shirt and matching shorts

Mike says he has watched an old rugby match with Lucas since he was born

Mia (left), ten, and Lena (right), five, are ready to put a jacket on their little brother

The Tindall family live on Princess Anne’s estate, Gatcombe Park, a wedding gift from the late Queen

The proud dad revealed that as soon as Lucas was born, he immediately took him downstairs to watch a ‘ridiculously old’ rugby match between Bath and Wigan.

Zara and Mike were the first royals to openly talk about their two miscarriages after the birth of their eldest daughter in 2014.

Speaking about her experience to The Sunday Times in 2018, Zara said the hardest part of her first miscarriage was telling the world because news of the pregnancy had been made public.

She explained: ‘In our case it was something that was really rare; it was nature saying, “This one isn’t right.” I had to go through the labor because it was already so far along.”

The royal couple first met at the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia and have been married since 2011.

Mike candidly discussed their first date on I’m A Celeb, saying: ‘First real date, just went for lunch locally. And it ended up being quite drunk. Then we discovered that we both enjoy being spanked. It was a good start.

Zara and Mike were the first royals to speak about their experiences with miscarriages after the birth of their eldest daughter Mia, pictured playing with brother Lucas

Mike talked to his campmates about Lucas’ birth on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2022, saying Zara was in so much pain she “almost choked me to death”

He recalled: ‘I was at the World Cup, she was watching. I was dropped from the semi-finals.

‘I was exhausted so I went for a beer with another guy who was being dropped off and a guy who was passing [in Sydney]. They had met her before, they introduced us and we started talking.’

The couple live at Zara’s mother, Princess Anne’s, Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire – which was bought as a wedding gift for the princess by her mother, the late Queen.

Anne and her ex-husband, Captain Mark Phillips, moved in 1977 and raised their two children Zara and her older brother Peter on the estate.

Explosive claims that at least one staff member had attempted to access personal details about Kate following her planned abdominal surgery in January have prompted bosses at the prestigious hospital to launch an urgent review. 

Its chief executive, Al Russell, finally broke his silence this afternoon, saying in a statement: ‘Everyone at the London Clinic is acutely aware of our individual, professional, ethical and legal duties with regards to patient confidentiality.

‘We take enormous pride in the outstanding care and discretion we aim to deliver for all our patients that put their trust in us every day.

‘We have systems in place to monitor management of patient information and, in the case of any breach, all appropriate investigatory, regulatory and disciplinary steps will be taken.

‘There is no place at our hospital for those who intentionally breach the trust of any of our patients or colleagues.’

The Princess is said to be aware of the allegations, while a spokesperson for Kensington Palace said: ‘This is a matter for the London Clinic.’ 

CEO Al Russell said: ‘Everyone at the London Clinic is acutely aware of our individual, professional, ethical and legal duties with regards to patient confidentiality’

The London Clinic, where the Princess of Wales was treated after undergoing abdominal surgery, first opened its doors in 1932. Above: Police outside the hospital when Kate was receiving treatment 

Prince William was seen at the Millennium Gallery in Sheffield as his wife continues to recover

Earlier today the health minister Maria Caulfield, who is herself a nurse, said the rules were ‘very clear’ about the ban on accessing private medical information for no medical purpose. 

She told LBC: ‘My understanding is that police have been asked to look at it – whether they take action is a matter for them.

‘But the Information Commissioner can also take prosecutions, can also issue fines, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and other health regulators can strike you off the register if the breach is serious enough.

‘So there are particularly hefty implications if you are looking at notes for medical records that you should not be looking at.’

Despite Ms Caulfield’s claims, the Met said it ‘was not aware of any referral at this time’. 

The princess was admitted to the hospital for abdominal surgery on January 16.

Details of Kate’s condition have not been disclosed but Kensington Palace previously said it was not cancer related and that the princess wished for her personal medical information to remain private.

Earlier today, Ms Caulfield told Sky News that it is ‘pretty serious stuff to be accessing notes that you don’t have permission to’.

She said: ‘Just to reassure your viewers, these rules apply to all patients, so there are very strict rules about which patient notes you can access.

‘You’re only allowed to access the patient notes you’re caring for, and with their permission, and there’s really strict rules.

‘The Information Commissioner would take enforcement action against trusts or primary care practices, but also, as individual practitioners, your regulatory body… would take action as well.

‘So it’s pretty severe, and it’s pretty serious stuff to be accessing notes that you don’t have permission to.’

The UK privacy and data protection watchdog said it had received a breach report.

An Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) spokesperson said last night: ‘We can confirm that we have received a breach report and are assessing the information provided.’

Mystery shrouded the scandal last night, with the prestigious clinic refusing to answer when it was first made aware of the alleged violation or if the staff responsible had been suspended as it investigates. 

Insiders at the hospital, based in Marylebone, central London, said staff had been ‘left utterly shocked and distraught’ that a ‘trusted colleague’ could have carried out such a ‘breach of trust and ethics’.

The alleged breach of privacy comes as crazed conspiracy theories emerged after the Princess recovered in private following her procedure on January 16. 

Disgraceful trolls on social media used Kate’s decision to recover away from the public limelight as an opportunity to spread baseless and hurtful claims.

‘Katespiracies’ included claims she was recovering from a ‘Brazilian bum lift’ or in a coma, a theory sparked by a Spanish journalist. 

Other more sinister theories included that she was dead, had been replaced by a body double or that the Wales’ marriage was in trouble. 

The London Clinic could not confirm the exact date the alleged breach is said to have taken place but the revelation came a day after footage emerged of Kate out and about in Windsor over the weekend. 

King Charles walks out of The London Clinic in January following a three night stay in hospital after prostate surgery

Kate was recently filmed in Windsor by shopper Nelson Silva, 40 

Revealing the scandal, one insider at the hospital told the Mirror: ‘This is a major security breach and incredibly damaging for the hospital, given its unblemished reputation for treating members of the Royal Family.

‘Senior hospital bosses contacted Kensington Palace immediately after the incident was brought to their attention and assured the palace there would be a full investigation. 

‘The whole medical staff have been left utterly shocked and distraught over the allegations and were very hurt that a trusted colleague could have allegedly been responsible for such a breach of trust and ethics.’

It is a criminal offence for staff in any NHS or private healthcare setting to access the medical records of a patient without the consent of the medical provider’s data controller. 

The Met Police told MailOnline it was unable to comment without knowing if the clinic had reported the incident to the force.

While the clinic refused to answer questions, it said it firmly believes ‘that all our patients, no matter their status, deserve total privacy and confidentiality regarding their medical information’. 

Details of Kate’s condition have not been revealed but Kensington Palace previously said it was not cancer related and that the Princess wished her personal medical information to remain private.

Upon announcing that Kate was undergoing surgery Kensington Palace said the Princess would be out of action until after Easter.

Despite laying out a clear timeline, her temporary step back from work led to a tsunami of speculation being made about the her condition on social media.

The absurd claims only intensified when the Princess took the blame for the family photograph released by Kensington Palace on Mother’s Day, which was ‘killed’ by six of the world’s top picture agencies over concerns that it had been ‘manipulated’.

The furor on social media led the Princess to make a personal apology on X, writing ‘Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.’ 

Last week, friends of William and Kate said they ‘want to be clear and more open’ about her health woes – but will only share with the public ‘when they feel ready’. 

The London clinic refused to comment on the claims but said told the paper it firmly believes ‘that all our patients, no matter their status, deserve total privacy and confidentiality regarding their medical information’

Kensington Palace released the picture of the Princess of Wales since surgery

William and Kate were spotted leaving Windsor for Westminster Abbey to attend The Commonwealth Day Service last Monday

‘She and William are at their most open when out interacting with the public. I can see a world in which the Princess might discuss her recovery out on engagements,’ a source told the Sunday Times. 

‘If she was going to do it, that’s how she would do it. They appreciate the public’s love and affection for their children and know there is a public appetite to see them on their birthdays.’

Kensington Palace has maintained that Kate is ‘doing well’ and will only provide significant updates. 

The Princess is now expected to return to public duty after April 17, when her children start back at Lambrook School, near Ascot, following the Easter Holidays.

However, there has been some speculation that the Princess could now make an earlier return and may even be seen walking into the annual Easter Matins service at St George’s Chapel on the Windsor estate. 

According to the Telegraph, the Princess has not ruled out joining her family on Easter Sunday for the traditional walk about, which would be photographed. 

A palace source told the paper there had been ‘no confirmation either way’ adding that anything else was speculation.

The hospital’s investigation comes just days after videos and pictures emerged on Monday of Kate and Prince William attending a farm shop in Windsor.

Prince and Princess of Wales with their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in Norfolk in 2022

It showed a smiling Kate carrying a shopping bag as she walked swiftly from the shop, a mile away from their Adelaide Cottage. 

While the video – shot by shopper Nelson Silva, 40 – provided relief to millions in the UK – suggesting that the Princess’ recovery is on track – crazed trolls took to social media claiming the video was not Kate but a body double. 

The hospital’s security breach revealed yesterday is not the first time the Princess has faced public exposure of otherwise private medical records.

In December, it was uncovered that a gang of hackers had tried to break into the computer system of King Edward’s VII Hospital’s, where Kate had previously been treated.

Just days before Christmas, the group threatened to release ‘data from the Royal Family’ unless they were paid £300,000 in the cyber currency Bitcoin. 

The ransom demand was made on the dark web, where the hackers posted images of what they claim are stolen files including X-rays, letters from consultants, registration forms, handwritten clinical notes, and pathology forms.

The gang said: ‘Unique files are presented to your attention! Data from the Royal Family! A large amount of patient and employee data. Sale in one lot!!’ 

In 2012, two Australian radio DJs pretended to be the Queen and Prince Charles in a prank-call to staff at King Edward VII’s hospital, where Kate was being treated for acute morning sickness.

Not seeing through their impressions, night nurse Jacintha Saldanha passed them through to a nurse helping to treat the duchess. 

Kate, Charlotte, George, William and Louis at the Sandringham Christmas Day 2023 service

The stunt, which drew out information about Kate’s medical condition, was broadcast in full. But it turned to tragedy when mother-of-two Mrs Saldanha was found hanged three days later.

The incident – and its tragic consequences – were known to have greatly affected the royal couple. In a letter written to Mrs Saldanha’s family, William said they were ‘so sorry that someone who cared for others so much found themselves in such a desperate situation.’

The London Clinic, where the Princess of Wales was treated earlier this year first opened its doors in 1932. 

King Charles, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, was also underwent surgery for an enlarged prostate at the hospital earlier this year. He was pictured smiling and waving as he left the building on January 29 alongside Queen Camilla.  

The hospital’s illustrious list of previous patients includes Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor and future US President John F Kennedy.

The building at 20 Devonshire Place has seven main operating theatres and three additional theatres, as well as six specialty wards for surgeries in urology, gynaecology, thoracic surgery, orthopaedics and spinal procedures.

The clinic can treat 155 conditions and has a leading cancer centre which hosts patients for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other treatments.

It also operated as a charity, reinvesting in research, education and innovation.

Since the 1980s, a number of facilities at the site have been officially launched by members of the royal family.

Queen Elizabeth II leaves the London Clinic after visiting her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on June 15, 2013

The London Clinic has previously treated Prince Philip. The late Duke of Edinburgh is pictured above leaving the private hospital in 2013

Princess Margaret was treated there in 1980 to have a benign skin lesion removed

The King, as the then-Prince of Wales, opened the physiotherapy department in 1989, while Princess Margaret launched the MRI unit in 1991 and the late Queen unveiled a new cancer unit in 2010. 

Prince Philip was admitted to the clinic for what was described as ‘abdominal investigations’ in 2013, whilst Princess Margaret was treated there in 1980 to have a benign skin lesion removed.

In 1947, Kennedy, who was then a US Congressman, was diagnosed with Addison’s disease at the clinic.

Taylor underwent a knee operation there in January 1963 after falling on a film set.

Other former patients include former Labour Prime Minister Clement Attlee, who was admitted in 1939 – when he was Leader of the Opposition – for surgery on his prostate. 

Another former PM, Conservative Anthony Eden, had his gall bladder removed at The London Clinic in 1953, when he was Foreign Secretary.

Current Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who was PM from 2010 until 2016, was born there in 1966. 

By Sam Greenhill, Senior Reporter

Published: 7:19 PM EDT, March 19, 2024 | Updated: 8:28 PM EDT, March 19, 2024

Prince Archie’s official christening photo, featuring a proud Duke and Duchess of Sussex, is the latest royal image to be drawn into the photo manipulation saga.

Global photo agency Getty said the portrait had been “digitally enhanced.” It is unclear why, while there are no signs of clear discrepancies. The photo – taken by fashion photographer Chris Allerton – was released after Archie’s christening on July 6, 2019, and shows the two-month-old baby with Meghan, Prince Harry, King Charles, Camilla, William, Kate, Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland and Princess Diana’s sisters.

Last night Mr Allerton strongly denied manipulating the image. He said: ‘A load of cobblers. Bye.’

Prince Archie’s official christening photo has been recalled by global photo agency Getty, which said the portrait has been ‘digitally enhanced’

It follows last week’s furor over the Princess of Wales’s Mother’s Day portrait after she admitted she ‘occasionally experiments with editing’. Several international news agencies have issued a ‘kill’ notice withdrawing its use.

A portrait of the late Queen with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren – taken by Kate at Balmoral in August 2022 – has also received the same branding from Getty. Both photos have an “editor’s note” in the Getty captions that states: “Image has been digitally enhanced at the source.”

Kate’s portrait of the late Queen – with her two grandchildren, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, and James, Earl of Wessex, and eight great-grandchildren, Lena Tindall, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Isla Phillips, Prince Louis, Mia Tindall, Lucas Tindall and Savannah Phillips – was released on April 21 last year to mark Elizabeth II’s 97th birthday.

This portrait of the late Queen with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren – taken by Kate in August 2022 at Balmoral – has been given the same branding by Getty

Mia Grace Tindall’s hair appears to have been digitally altered with a duplicated strand

Princess Charlotte’s floral dress shows a repeated pattern, which could be a sign of editing

There appears to be an inexplicable black triangle next to Prince George’s collar

The tartan pattern on the late Queen’s skirt appears to have been sliced ​​and out of place

It appears that a black cable on the floor has been cut, with blurring around one end

The dimple in the green couch they are sitting on appears to have been digitally altered

Upon closer inspection, it appears that the sofa has been spliced ​​together; there is a vertical line where the tartan of Elizabeth II’s skirt does not fit; there are black spots behind Prince George and Prince Louis. Mia’s hair shows signs of ‘digital repetition’, as does Charlotte’s dress.

A Getty spokesperson said: ‘Getty Images conducts a review of distributed images and, in accordance with its editorial policy, will post an editor’s note on images where the source has suggested they could be digitally enhanced.’

Spokespersons for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were contacted.

Last night, after this story was published on MailOnline, Mr Allerton insisted his photo ‘has not been doctored’ and thanked the Mail for bringing to his attention that Getty had added an ‘editor’s note’ to his image.

He said: ‘I have contacted the Getty editorial team to ask for clarification.’

The photographer recalled that his portrait had required only “the very minimal fine-tuning” of tone and lighting, as he had meticulously prepared his camera and exposure settings before the royal family arrived, and all that remained was to concentrate on “the capturing a relaxing and pleasant moment, quickly and efficiently for them’.

The Princess of Wales may have made a subtle hint she will be ready to return to work soon after donning a shirt from England Rugby team –  one of her patronages –  during a trip to a farm shop with Prince William.

Kate Middleton, 42, opted for black leggings, £128 Adidas Ultra Boost 20 Sneakers and an England Rugby Icon Hoodie Mens in Black & Orange for the shopping trip to the Windsor Farm Shop on Saturday lunchtime.

The snap was taken ahead of England’s game against on France in the Six Nations later that evening, perhaps suggesting Kate was picking up food to watch the match with her family. 

Kate has been patron of the Rugby Football League and the Rugby Football Union since 2022, and often cheers on the England team.

She has missed the whole Six Nations tournament due to her recovery at home, but is perhaps showing a sign of support from home. 

Kate took over the roles from her brother-in-law Prince Harry who used to enjoy cheering on England before he was forced to give up the patronage as part of the Megxit agreement. 

Kate, who grew up watching rugby with her family, is known as one of the sportiest members of the Royal Family and has gamely taken on her husband in everything from dragon boating to wind buggy racing at royal engagements.

‘[The Duke and Duchess] are famously competitive with each other and this will be no different – probably even more so now that they have an invested interest in the outcome of the game,’ a source said when Kate’s patronage was announced. 

It’s the first footage of the royal since her abdominal surgery in January, which also puts to bed concerns about her health and discredits bizarre and baseless conspiracy theories being spread about her online. 

The mother-of-three is said to be believed to royal duty after Easter, when her children Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, go back to school.

She is also royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club and is a frequent visitor to the Wimbledon Championships.

Less well known is her love of rugby.  Her sister, Pippa, wrote in Vanity Fair magazine in 2014: ‘Rugby was a big thing for our family, we’d plan our weekends around the big matches.’

A clip published by The Sun, also shows the royals carrying their own shopping.

Kate Middleton , 42, opted for black leggings and an England Rugby Icon Hoodie Mens in Black & Orange

She completed the look with £128 Adidas Ultra Boost 20 Sneakers

Kate has been patron of the Rugby Football League and the Rugby Football Union since 2022, and often cheers on the England team. She is pictured in September meeting players George Ford and Alex Mitchell in the dressing room after a match between England and Argentina in Marseilles, France 

Kate Middleton beams as she applauds England’s rugby team after it saw off Fiji to progress to the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup in October 2022

Body language expert Judi James has told MailOnline that Kate was exuding body confidence and showed no ‘frailty’ – in an appearance that was deliberately ‘reassuring fans and quashing all the toxic rumours’ swirling around her.

She said: ‘Kate walks ahead of William, taking large enough strides to suggest no hint of any ongoing frailty. While William keeps his face partially hidden under his cap and his head lowered, Kate’s body language here suggests a desire to be seen.

‘This is quite extraordinary body language behaviour for a leading royal out “incognito” in public and it suggests a point is, quite naturally, being made in terms of reassuring fans and quashing all the toxic rumours.

‘Her head is up and her long hair is billowing while she wears a cheek-rounded smile that seems to signal she is completely upbeat and cheerful’.

Judi added: ‘It is completely stunning to see the most sought-after woman in the world and the subject of speculation and rumours on social media suddenly appearing like this looking not just healthy, full of energy and incredibly happy but also making no apparent attempt to hide while out in public’.

The Princess of Wales, 41, places a congratulatory hand on the shoulder of Samoan-born centre Manu Tuilagi as she shakes his hand in the dressing room

Kensington Palace has not commented on the film where Kate strides from the Windsor Farm Shop – much loved by the couple and set up by William’s late grandfather Prince Philip – while carrying a substantial shopping bag on Saturday afternoon.

The couple had gone there for supplies having reportedly spent the morning watching their three children – George, 10, Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five, play sport.

Kate and William were not accompanied by their three children. The couple have, in recent weeks, been left deeply distressed by wild social media speculation and gossip about Kate’s health and whereabouts.

This has since been reported by publications ranging from the New York Times to British Vogue – and even become the subject of cruel mockery on prime time American television.

Global superstars such as Kim Kardashian have added fuel to the fire with posts about Kate’s ‘disappearance’ to their millions of fans.

The debacle over the princess’ well-meaning Mother’s Day photograph, which she later admitted to having tried to edit, only added to the swirl of speculation.

This was preceded by William’s sudden announcement he was pulling out of his godfather’s memorial service last month on what was only described as a ‘personal matter’ just 45 minutes before he had been due to give a reading.

Against the backdrop of the King’s cancer diagnosis, the drama has created a febrile atmosphere of gossip and conjecture around the Royal Family.

Sources close to the Wales’ have told the Mail they have found the speculation hugely hurtful and hard to deal with, but were determined to focus on what was important to them – their family and the princess’ recovery.

It comes amid reports that Kensington Palace is working with PR gurus to devise a Kate’s schedule when she returns to work.

Her new private secretary Lt Col Tom White and Williams private secretary Ian Patrick are believed to be part of a senior team working around the clock after outlandish rumours swirled around her absence from the public eye, The Mirror reports.

A source told the publication: ‘The teams are working round the clock to devise the Princess of Wales’s back-to-work plan after weeks of immense pressure. They all know that the world will be watching after weeks of heightened speculation and often outlandish commentary on social media.’ 

It is anticipated that the new image, showing the couple going about their normal lives, will go some way to calming many of the wilder rumours that have gripped people across the globe.

The snap was taken at 12.43pm on Saturday by a member of the public who was also at the farm shop, just a mile’s drive from the Wales’ Adelaide Cottage home, on their Apple iPhone 12 Pro phone.

The person concerned said they were visiting the shop to ‘kill time’ while on the way to meet someone to buy an item from Facebook when they recognised William and Kate and were struck by how ‘happy’ they looked.

Her Mother’s Day portrait was edited by the Princess of Wales to make the perfect family shot. But conspiracy theorists have used it to question everything about Kate’s health

They spotted the couple again in the car park and decided to capture the moment to share with their own delighted family.

‘When I went inside I looked around and noticed them. They all looked happy,’ the person, who wishes to remain anonymous, said.

‘To be honest I don’t follow this type of news but I shared [it] with my family – they were like ‘oh, she’s alive!’ ‘

He told TMZ: ‘I noticed a couple choosing loaves of bread and the woman turned her face and I felt like I had seen the face before. It was familiar.

‘I went to my car and as they came out of the shop I just filmed them. I think they walked out through a gate out of the grounds. They just vanished and I didn’t see a car.

‘Kate looked happy and relaxed. They look happy just to be able to go to a shop and mingle.

‘Kate looked relieved, like it was a success going to a shop. It felt natural.’

The prince and princess are both dressed casually, each carrying a white shopping bag in their left hand.

Kate sports black leggings, tucked into socks and trainers, with a zip-up top and is wearing her hair loose.

William is wearing blue jeans, trainers and a jacket with a baseball cap pulled low down over his forehead.

As they chat, the pair – who will celebrate 13 years of marriage in April – couldn’t look happier.

And the fact that the princess seems to be walking with such ease suggests that she is very much on the mend.

On January 17 Kensington Palace announced that Kate had been admitted to The London Clinic in Marylebone, Central London, the previous day for ‘planned abdominal surgery’.

It said the operation had been successful but would result in a two-week stay in hospital before a period of lengthy recuperation at home.

Her spokesman added that, based on the current medical advice, she was unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.

The couple are said to have visited the farm having watched their their three children – George, 10, Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five – take part in sports. Pictured: Kate with Louis and Charlotte in May 2023

King Charles III (wearing his Welsh Guards uniform) watches a flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London. He hopes to attend this year, the Mail revealed today

That advice has not changed.

A spokesman stated that it was the Princess’ personal wish to keep her medical information private and said it would only provide an update if there were ‘significant new information to share’.

However their clear statement failed to stop social media and overseas publications, websites and television from speculating wildly about the Princess’ whereabouts and what may have happened to her. The hashtag #whereiskate began trending.

Even the BBC website tackled the issue, highlighting the outlandish speculation under the title: ‘Royal dilemma as public curiosity over Kate’s health grows.’

Some of it has been farcical, including the much-repeated rumour that she is recuperating from a ‘Brazilian bum lift’ or hiding away after a bad haircut.

Other claims, however, have been downright offensive – including that made by a journalist on Spanish television that she has been in a coma that gained huge international traction and had to be openly denied by Kensington Palace.

However trolls and conspiracy theorists have continued used her absence and the lawlessness of social media to spread deeply sinister and highly libellous claims to this day.

A spokesman recently re-iterated their previous advice that they were not going to provide a ‘running commentary’ on the Princess’ health.

‘From our perspective, we were very clear from our statement at the start of this in January that the Princess of Wales planned to be out of public action until after Easter and that hasn’t changed,’ they said.

Smiling and walking with her husband, a new image of the Princess of Wales will reassure fans that she is recovering well from her abdominal surgery.

The photo taken by a member of the public on Saturday shows William, 41, and Kate, 42, visiting the Windsor Farm Shop, a short drive from their home in Berkshire.

The princess looks healthy, happy and relaxed, carrying her own shopping bag and smilingly talking to her husband as the couple leaves the store and returns to their car, according to the image published by The sun.

They were not accompanied by their three children: Prince George, ten, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis.

The couple have been deeply saddened in recent weeks by wild speculation and gossip on social media about Kate’s health and whereabouts.

Kate, who is currently recovering from abdominal surgery, looked ‘happy, healthy and relaxed’ at The Windsor Farm Shop (pictured) – their favorite local store

The sighting at the Windsor store is an encouraging sign that Kate is taking her first steps towards a return to official royal engagements

This has since been reported in publications ranging from the New York Times to British Vogue – and has even become the subject of cruel mockery on US prime-time television.

Global superstars such as Kim Kardashian have added fuel to the fire with messages about Kate’s ‘disappearance’ to their millions of fans.

The debacle over the princess’s well-meaning Mother’s Day photo, which she later admitted she had tried to edit, only fueled more speculation.

This was preceded by William’s sudden announcement that he was withdrawing from his godfather’s memorial service last month due to what was only described as a “personal matter”, just 45 minutes before he was due to give a talk.

Set against the backdrop of the king’s cancer diagnosis, the drama has created a feverish atmosphere of gossip and conjecture around the royal family.

Sources close to Wales told the Mail they found the speculation hugely hurtful and difficult to deal with, but were determined to focus on what was important to them: their family and the Princess’s recovery.

The new images and video, which show the couple going about their normal lives, are expected to help calm many of the wilder rumors gripping people around the world.

The video was taken at 12.43pm on Saturday by a member of the public who was also at the farm shop, just a mile’s drive from the Adelaide Cottage home in Wales, on their Apple iPhone 12 Pro phone.

The person involved said they were visiting the store to ‘kill time’ as they met someone on the way to buy an item from Facebook, when they recognized William and Kate and noticed how ‘happy’ they looked.

William and Kate were spotted leaving Windsor for Westminster Abbey last Monday to attend the Commonwealth Day Service. She has now been seen four times in two weeks

Her Mother’s Day portrait was edited by the Princess of Wales to create the perfect family photo. But conspiracy theorists have used it to question everything about Kate’s health

They saw the couple again in the parking lot and decided to make a video to share with their own delighted family.

“When I went in, I looked around and saw them. They all looked happy,” said the person, who wished to remain anonymous.

“To be honest, I don’t follow this kind of news, but I shared the video with my family. They said, ‘Oh, she’s alive!’ ‘

The prince and princess are both dressed casually and each carry a white shopping bag in their left hand.

Kate wears black leggings, tucked into socks and sneakers, with a zip-up top and wears her hair down.

William is wearing jeans, sneakers and a jacket with a baseball cap pulled low over his forehead.

As they chatted, the couple – who will celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary in April – couldn’t look happier.

And the fact that the princess seems to be walking so easily suggests that she is very much on the mend.

On January 17, Kensington Palace announced that Kate had been admitted to the London Clinic in Marylebone, central London, the day before for a “planned abdominal operation.”

It was said that the operation had been successful but would result in a two-week stay in hospital before a period of lengthy recovery at home.

Her spokesperson added that, based on current medical advice, it is unlikely she will resume her public duties until after Easter.

The couple are said to have visited the farm after watching their three children – George, 10, Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five – playing sports. Pictured: Kate with Louis and Charlotte in May 2023

King Charles III (dressed in his Welsh Guards uniform) watches a flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Color on June 17, 2023 in London. He hopes to attend this year, the Mail announced today

That advice has not changed.

A spokesperson said it was the princess’s personal wish to keep her medical information private and said she would only provide an update if there was “significant new information to share.”

However, their clear statement did not stop social media and foreign publications, websites and television from speculating wildly about the whereabouts of the princess and what might have happened to her. The hashtag #whereiskate started trending.

Even the BBC website covered the issue, highlighting the bizarre speculation under the headline: ‘A royal dilemma as public curiosity about Kate’s health grows.’

Some of it was farcical, including the oft-repeated rumor that she is recovering from a “Brazilian butt lift” or hiding out after a bad haircut.

However, other claims have been downright insulting, including one by a journalist on Spanish television that she has been in a coma which has received enormous international attention and had to be openly denied by Kensington Palace.

However, trolls and conspiracy theorists have continued to this day to use her absence and the lawlessness of social media to spread deeply sinister and highly defamatory claims.

A spokesperson recently reiterated their previous advice that they would not provide a “running commentary” on the princess’ health.

“From our perspective, we were very clear from our statement at the start of this in January that the Princess of Wales intended to remain out of public action until after Easter and that has not changed,” they said.

The Princess of Wales’ surprise visit to her favourite farm shop on a busy spring Saturday only piles yet more pressure on the Palace to update the public on her health as bonkers conspiracy theories about her rage online, experts said today.  

Kate was spotted looking ‘happy, healthy and relaxed’ as she picked up goods from the independent store just a mile from her Adelaide Cottage home on Saturday.

The future Queen was spotted by customers at the Windsor Farm Shop with Prince William after a morning of apparently watching their three children – George, 10, Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five, play sport.

Biographer Phil Dampier told MailOnline that while many will be happy to hear Kate is out and about, others will ‘now be saying if she is well enough to be seen by members of the public then why can’t we be told what is wrong with her?’

He said: ‘A report over the weekend said Kate will want to reveal her treatment when she is fully fit and back at work. That would probably be the best way but some will be impatient and want answers now’.

Royal expert and investigative journalist Tom Bower has said that Kate’s outing shows there is ‘panic at the Palace’, especially after the farrago of her edited Mother’s Day portrait. 

He said: ‘Her appearance suggests panic at the Palace. Just as last week’s furore has died down, they allowed her to reignite all the questions about her health which should remain private. Her advisors clearly can’t decide what their strategy should be, or agree it with the Wales’s. If they carry on like this – ducking and weaving – it will end badly’.

Kate has now been spotted four times in two weeks when Kensington Palace said  maintained that she would not be seen in public before Easter after abdominal surgery in January. It has been reported that she may return to royal duties by walking to church on Easter Sunday.

The Mother’s Day portrait was edited by the Princess of Wales to make the perfect family shot. But conspiracy theorists have used it to question everything about Kate’s health – and even when it was taken due to a green plant in the background

William and Kate were spotted leaving Windsor for Westminster Abbey to attend The Commonwealth Day Service last Monday. She has now been seen four times in a fortnight

Kate, who is currently recovering from abdominal surgery, looking ‘happy, healthy and relaxed’ at The Windsor Farm Shop (pictured)

Mr Bower believes her aides are in a state of panic and every public outing only ignites more conspiracy theories and questions about her health, especially as there is no picture of Kate in Windsor yesterday and no update on her condition.

He has accused Kensington Palace of handling the Photoshop scandal ‘appallingly’ and failing to protect the Princess of Wales when she should have her ‘feet up’ at home while she recovers from major surgery. 

‘Yesterday’s unexpected “sighting” of Kate suggests that her Palace advisors have still not learnt their lesson’, he said.

The sighting at The Windsor Farm Shop will also provide a much needed boost to the British public who have been growing more concerned about the Princess’ health in the midst of a tsunami of speculation over her unknown condition.

A witness who saw the couple told The Sun last night: ‘After all the rumours that had been going round I was stunned to see them there. Kate was out shopping with William and she looked happy and she looked well.

‘The kids weren’t with them but it’s such a good sign she was healthy enough to pop down to the shops.’

While no pictures were taken of the couple – adhering to their request for privacy as Kate recovers – their reported appearance is an encouraging sign that she is taking her first steps towards a return to official royal engagements. 

Phil Dampier said: ‘It’s great that Kate has been seen in public and is obviously on the mend.

‘Lots of people will be relived that she is well enough to go to the farm shop and I expect she will soon be taking her kids to school or out and about during holidays.

‘Like anyone who has been convalescing for a long time after an operation she will be getting bored and would naturally want to resume normal life.

‘But unfortunately for some people on social media and elsewhere nothing will ever be enough and they will now be saying if she is well enough to be seen by members of the public then why can’t we be told what is wrong with her?

‘I remember several years ago Prince William got it into his head that he didn’t want anyone to know the name of their new dog.

‘A few weeks later Kate was visiting a hospital and told a patient the dog’s name was Lupo.

‘She is more open about things and I’m sure this is how she will reveal more about her health when she feels confident and thinks the time is right’.

The Princess, who made her last public engagement at Sandringham on Christmas Day, is expected to return to public duty after April 17, when her children start back at Lambrook School, near Ascot, following the Easter Holidays.

Yet there is suggestion that Kate could now make an earlier return and may even be seen walking into the annual Easter Matins service at St George’s Chapel on the Windsor estate. 

The Princess of Wales has reportedly been spotted out and about for the first time since her abdominal surgery visiting a local farm shop in Windsor with her husband William. Pictured: Kate in May 2023 

The couple are said to have visited the farm having watched their their three children – George, 10, Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five – take part in sports. Pictured: Kate with Louis and Charlotte in May 2023

According to the Telegraph the Princess has not ruled out making a return to the public eye on Easter Sunday and could join her family for the traditional walk about, which would be photographed. 

A palace source told the paper there had been ‘no confirmation either way’ adding that anything else was speculation.

The reports of an early return and her Windsor sighting come just a few days after the Princess was pictured in the back of a car alongside Prince William as they left Windsor Castle last Monday. 

The Prince of Wales was on his way to Westminster Abbey for the annual Commonwealth Day service while MailOnline understands Kate was headed to a ‘private appointment’.  

In recent weeks wild rumours – fuelled by social media and the foreign press – have speculated over the reason why Kate has not been seen, despite the Kensington Palace’s laying out her recovery timeline.

‘Katespiracies’ online have ranged from claims she was recovering from a ‘Brazilian bum lift’ or in a coma, a theory sparked by a journalist on Spanish television. 

Some joked she was a contestant on The Masked Singer television show – or may have even been bumped from the Royal Family.

Other trolls and conspiracy theorists have used her absence and the lawlessness of social media to spread deeply sinister and highly libellous claims. Even Kim Kardashian has wade in posting selfies captured: ‘On my way to go find Kate.’

While no pictures were taken of the couple, the reported sighting at the shop is an encouraging sign that she is taking her first steps towards a return to official royal engagements

The couple are said to have visited the farm shop (pictured) having watched their three children – George, 10, Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five – take part in sports

The absurd claims only intensified when the Princess took the blame for the family photograph released by Kensington Palace on Mother’s Day, which was ‘killed’ by six of the world’s top picture agencies over concern that it had been ‘manipulated’.

It came after it was pointed out that part of Princess Charlotte‘s sleeve and the misaligned edge of her skirt were missing, with other speculation including the positioning of Kate’s zip. 

In addition to the numerous imperfections in the image, viewers also spotted that Kate appeared to not be wearing her wedding ring, which sparked multiple unfounded theories online about the state of her marriage. 

The furor on social media led the Princess to make a personal apology on X, writing ‘Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.’ 

It is understood that Kate had only intended to ‘bring a bit of joy’ and release a reassuring image to thank the public for their ongoing support, and that she and William are both ‘shaken and devastated’ at the speculation about their marriage. 

William is said to have taken the picture in a 40-minute window on a £2,900 Canon camera on Friday before the Princess edited it twice in Photoshop to ‘make it the best it can be’. 

Despite calls for the original image to be published, Kensington Palace insisted it would not be reissuing the unedited photograph of Kate and her children. 

One insider said: ‘I worry about all this attention on Catherine. She did not look happy at all in the car on Monday.’

Kate posted the apology on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Instagram account 

Prince and Princess of Wales with their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in Norfolk in 2022

Over the weekend, a source close to the Wales’ said that the couple will disclose more information about Kate’s illness and recovery in due course. 

‘In Kate’s case, there is almost nobody else in the world whose face, body, clothes are more judged than hers,’ the insider told The Sunday Times. 

‘What is happening is exactly what they said would happen — she would spend two weeks in hospital and be back after Easter. So what if they haven’t pushed her out there to wave from the back of a car? She is not a show pony.’  

A friend said the Waleses are fully aware about the circulating rumours but claimed: ‘They’re not like [Prince] Harry, obsessing and scrolling through Twitter, but they know it has broken through. 

‘They follow the news and see the BBC breaking news alerts.’

The insider added that the speculation around the couple’s marriage is ‘just cruel’, especially while William, Kate and their children are ‘going through the hardest time they’ve had to go through as a family’.

Kate was admitted to the London Clinic – the private hospital where the King underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate – for planned abdominal surgery.

She left the hospital on January 29 – almost two weeks later – and returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor.

Speculation grew online as she recuperated in Windsor which was only stoked further when William pulled out of a memorial service for his late godfather, King Constantine of Greece, for an unexplained ‘personal matter’. 

The Ministry of Defence also came under fire after it suggested that Kate would be attending the Trooping the Colour event in June before her appearance was quickly stripped from the Army’s official website.  

Details of her condition have not been revealed but Kensington Palace previously said it was not cancer-related and that the Princess wished her personal medical information to remain private.

Another friend said: ‘She and William are at their most open when out interacting with the public. I can see a world in which the Princess might discuss her recovery out on engagements.

‘If she was going to do it, that’s how she would do it. They appreciate the public’s love and affection for their children and know there is a public appetite to see them on their birthdays.’

Kensington Palace has maintained that Kate is ‘doing well’ and will only provide significant updates.

King Charles III (wearing his Welsh Guards uniform) watches a flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London

The couple are refusing to publish any details until they feel ready, with a friend adding: ‘They will want to be clear and more open, but they’ll do it when they feel ready. 

‘I would expect that to be her instinct and it will be her call. They are not going to be rushed.’ 

Sources told the Mail that that there is no pressure or hurry on her to do so and her focus remains on ‘what is important’ – her recovery and her three children. 

Despite this tumultuous few weeks for the Royal Family, it is expected that William and Kate will still uphold the tradition of releasing a new photograph to mark their children’s birthdays, the next being Prince Louis on April 23.

‘They appreciate the public’s love and affection for their children and know there is a public appetite to see them on their birthdays,’ an aide told the Times.

While there has been no official confirmation that Kate will be well enough to attend Trooping the Colour in June, the King, who is suffering from cancer, is determined to attend his official birthday celebrations.

The Mail revealed last night that aides are already exploring ways that Charles will be able to part within the constraints of his ongoing cancer treatment. 

This could include watching the military spectacular from a podium, instead on horseback as usual, and being driven to Buckingham Palace, like his late mother did.

A firm decision will be made at the time and will be dependent on medical advice. The event will take place on June 15 and the Mail understands the planning is a source for optimism. 

‘There are a number of key events His Majesty would love to attend coming up in the diary and this is at the top of the list,’ a source said. 

The Princess of Wales was reportedly spotted looking ‘happy, healthy and relaxed’ on a visit to a local farm shop over the weekend, marking the first time she has been seen out and about since undergoing planned abdominal surgery.

Kate and William were reportedly seen at one of their favourite spots, around a mile from their Adelaide Cottage, in Windsor on Saturday after having watched their three children – George, 10, Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five – take part in sports.

The sighting at The Windsor Farm Shop will provide a much needed boost to the British public who have been growing more concerned about the Princess’ health in the midst of a tsunami of speculation over her unknown condition.

A witness who saw the couple told The Sun last night: ‘After all the rumours that had been going round I was stunned to see them there. Kate was out shopping with William and she looked happy and she looked well.

‘The kids weren’t with them but it’s such a good sign she was healthy enough to pop down to the shops.’

While no pictures were taken of the couple – adhering to their request for privacy as Kate recovers – their alleged appearance is an encouraging sign that she is taking her first steps towards a return to official royal engagements. 

The Princess, who made her last public engagement at Sandringham on Christmas Day, is expected to return to public duty after April 17, when her children start back at Lambrook School, near Ascot, following the Easter Holidays.

Yet there is suggestion that Kate could now make an earlier return and may even be seen walking into the annual Easter Matins service at St George’s Chapel on the Windsor estate. 

Kate and William (pictured in November 2023) were reportedly seen at one of their favourite spots, around a mile from their Adelaide Cottage, in Windsor on Saturday

According to The Sun, members of the public saw Kate, who is currently recovering from abdominal surgery, looking ‘happy, healthy and relaxed’. Pictured: The Windsor Farm Shop where the couple were allegedly spotted on Saturday in December 2021

William and Kate were spotted leaving Windsor for Westminster Abbey to attend The Commonwealth Day Service last Monday

According to the Telegraph the Princess has not ruled out making a return to the public eye on Easter Sunday and could join her family for the traditional walk about, which would be photographed. 

A palace source told the paper there had been ‘no confirmation either way’ adding that anything else was speculation.

The reports of an early return and her Windsor sighting come just a few days after the Princess was pictured in the back of a car alongside Prince William as they left Windsor Castle last Monday. 

The Prince of Wales was on his way to Westminster Abbey for the annual Commonwealth Day service while MailOnline understands Kate was headed to a ‘private appointment’.  

In recent weeks wild rumours – fuelled by social media and the foreign press – have speculated over the reason why Kate has not been seen, despite the Kensington Palace’s laying out her recovery timeline.

‘Katespiracies’ online have ranged from claims she was recovering from a ‘Brazilian bum lift’ or in a coma, a theory sparked by a journalist on Spanish television. 

Some joked she was a contestant on The Masked Singer television show – or may have even been bumped from the Royal Family.

Other trolls and conspiracy theorists have used her absence and the lawlessness of social media to spread deeply sinister and highly libellous claims. Even Kim Kardashian has wade in posting selfies captured: ‘On my way to go find Kate.’

While no pictures were taken of the couple, the reported sighting at the shop is an encouraging sign that she is taking her first steps towards a return to official royal engagements

The couple are said to have visited the farm shop (pictured) having watched their three children – George, 10, Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five – take part in sports

The Princess of Wales is not expected to return to official duties until after Easter. She is pictured with her husband Prince William and her children during her last public appearance, which was on Christmas Day

The absurd claims only intensified when the Princess took the blame for the family photograph released by Kensington Palace on Mother’s Day, which was ‘killed’ by six of the world’s top picture agencies over concern that it had been ‘manipulated’.

It came after it was pointed out that part of Princess Charlotte‘s sleeve and the misaligned edge of her skirt were missing, with other speculation including the positioning of Kate’s zip. 

In addition to the numerous imperfections in the image, viewers also spotted that Kate appeared to not be wearing her wedding ring, which sparked multiple unfounded theories online about the state of her marriage. 

The furor on social media led the Princess to make a personal apology on X, writing ‘Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.’ 

It is understood that Kate had only intended to ‘bring a bit of joy’ and release a reassuring image to thank the public for their ongoing support, and that she and William are both ‘shaken and devastated’ at the speculation about their marriage. 

William is said to have taken the picture in a 40-minute window on a £2,900 Canon camera on Friday before the Princess edited it twice in Photoshop to ‘make it the best it can be’. 

Despite calls for the original image to be published, Kensington Palace insisted it would not be reissuing the unedited photograph of Kate and her children. 

One insider said: ‘I worry about all this attention on Catherine. She did not look happy at all in the car on Monday.’

Kensington Palace released the picture of the Princess of Wales since surgery

Kate posted the apology on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Instagram account 

Prince and Princess of Wales with their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in Norfolk in 2022

Over the weekend, a source close to the Wales’ said that the couple will disclose more information about Kate’s illness and recovery in due course. 

‘In Kate’s case, there is almost nobody else in the world whose face, body, clothes are more judged than hers,’ the insider told The Sunday Times. 

‘What is happening is exactly what they said would happen — she would spend two weeks in hospital and be back after Easter. So what if they haven’t pushed her out there to wave from the back of a car? She is not a show pony.’  

A friend said the Waleses are fully aware about the circulating rumours but claimed: ‘They’re not like [Prince] Harry, obsessing and scrolling through Twitter, but they know it has broken through. 

‘They follow the news and see the BBC breaking news alerts.’

The insider added that the speculation around the couple’s marriage is ‘just cruel’, especially while William, Kate and their children are ‘going through the hardest time they’ve had to go through as a family’.

Kate was admitted to the London Clinic – the private hospital where the King underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate – for planned abdominal surgery.

Kate is pictured at the Christmas Day morning church service in Sandringham last year, which was the last time she was seen publicly before her surgery

She left the hospital on January 29 – almost two weeks later – and returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor.

Speculation grew online as she recuperated in Windsor which was only stoked further when William pulled out of a memorial service for his late godfather, King Constantine of Greece, for an unexplained ‘personal matter’. 

The Ministry of Defence also came under fire after it suggested that Kate would be attending the Trooping the Colour event in June before her appearance was quickly stripped from the Army’s official website.  

Details of her condition have not been revealed but Kensington Palace previously said it was not cancer-related and that the Princess wished her personal medical information to remain private.

Another friend said: ‘She and William are at their most open when out interacting with the public. I can see a world in which the Princess might discuss her recovery out on engagements.

‘If she was going to do it, that’s how she would do it. They appreciate the public’s love and affection for their children and know there is a public appetite to see them on their birthdays.’

Kensington Palace has maintained that Kate is ‘doing well’ and will only provide significant updates.

Prince George of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales watch an RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London

King Charles III (wearing his Welsh Guards uniform) watches an RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023 in London

King Charles III (centre), wearing his Welsh Guards uniform, Prince William, Prince of Wales (Colonel of the Welsh Guards) (left) and Princess Anne, Princess Royal (Colonel of the Blues and Royals) (right) depart Buckingham Palace on horseback to attend Trooping the Colour on June 17, 2023

The couple are refusing to publish any details until they feel ready, with a friend adding: ‘They will want to be clear and more open, but they’ll do it when they feel ready. 

‘I would expect that to be her instinct and it will be her call. They are not going to be rushed.’ 

Sources told the Mail that that there is no pressure or hurry on her to do so and her focus remains on ‘what is important’ – her recovery and her three children. 

Despite this tumultuous few weeks for the Royal Family, it is expected that William and Kate will still uphold the tradition of releasing a new photograph to mark their children’s birthdays, the next being Prince Louis on April 23.

‘They appreciate the public’s love and affection for their children and know there is a public appetite to see them on their birthdays,’ an aide told the Times.

While there has been no official confirmation that Kate will be well enough to attend Trooping the Colour in June, the King, who is suffering from cancer, is determined to attend his official birthday celebrations.

The Mail revealed last night that aides are already exploring ways that Charles will be able to part within the constraints of his ongoing cancer treatment. 

This could include watching the military spectacular from a podium, instead on horseback as usual, and being driven to Buckingham Palace, like his late mother did.

A firm decision will be made at the time and will be dependent on medical advice. The event will take place on June 15 and the Mail understands the planning is a source for optimism. 

‘There are a number of key events His Majesty would love to attend coming up in the diary and this is at the top of the list,’ a source said.