LONDON — Kensington Palace released an official photo of Catherine, Princess of Wales, on Sunday — her first since she stepped back from public view as she recovered from abdominal surgery, an absence that has sparked frenzied speculation in recent weeks.
“Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months,” read a message with the photo on social media Sunday, which is Mother’s Day in the United Kingdom. “Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day,” the post continued, before a sign-off from “C,” for Catherine.
The photo may bring comfort to eagle-eyed royal watchers who have been hoping for weeks for a glimpse of Britain’s future queen.
Catherine, 42, was last seen in public on Christmas Day. Kensington Palace announced in January that she underwent “successful” abdominal surgery and that she would probably not resume official duties before April.
And while Kensington Palace sought to reassure the public the princess was “doing well” while recovering at home in Windsor, her withdrawal from the public eye sparked widespread interest around the world and particularly on social media, where users speculated about her whereabouts, coming up with memes and even conspiracy theories.
Last week, TMZ published a paparazzi photo of Catherine being driven in a car by her mother, though the image was not shared by British media.
