Tout smile et surrounded by her children: Kensington Palace published the first official photo of Princess Kate since her operation in mid-January, putting an end to a long and unusual media absence that fueled speculation about her health.
With this photo, does the palace hope to end these questions? Its publication comes after a tumultuous week, with the publication of previously unseen photos in American media specializing in celebrities, and confusion around the princess’ presence at an official event next June.
The last official public appearance of Prince William’s wife took place at the royal family’s Christmas service in Sandringham (eastern England) at the end of December, two and a half months ago, an unprecedented gesture for the popular princess, whose travels are so frequent. has made headlines in the British media.
In an official photo taken by William, according to Kensington Palace, and published on the couple’s official social media accounts, Kate is sitting smiling on a garden chair, dressed in jeans, a sweater and a dark jacket, surrounded by her three children, George, Charlotte. and Louis, laughing. The photo was taken “in Windsor earlier this week”, according to the palace.
“Thank you for your well wishes and continued support over the last two months. I wish everyone a happy Mother’s Day,” says a short message marked “C” (for Catherine) accompanying the photo.
While the actions of the royal family are always in the spotlight of the press, communication about Kate’s operation and recovery has sparked many questions, even criticisms, including in the tabloids, although it is very favorable to the couple she forms with William. .
Kensington Palace announced on January 17 that the princess had undergone surgery the day before in a London clinic. “Scheduled” stomach, without specifying the cause, but denied that it was related to cancer.
Transmitting “waiting” from Kate “that their personal medical information remains confidential”, it indicated that it would not participate in any official public event until Easter. William also had time to reduce his schedule to live with his wife and children.
Twelve days later, the palace announced that the princess had returned home to Windsor. And since then, nothing, or almost, except for a brief statement at the end of February as questions piled up in the media, suggesting that he “keep up the good work” after Prince William publicly canceled his engagement with a “personal reasons” unspecified.
But this week, the palace’s good communication was put to the test. First with the publication on Monday in two American media specializing in celebrities of a photo of Kate, wearing sunglasses, sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle driven by her mother.
The image was not published in British newspapers, in accordance with official requests to respect the privacy of the family during the princess’ recovery.
The next day, another problem: the Ministry of Defense mentions on one of its websites that the princess would participate on June 8 in one of the military parades organized for the sovereign’s official anniversary.
Clearly stunned, Kensington Palace, which manages Kate and William’s schedule, provided no confirmation, while royal sources insisted that they had not been consulted in advance by the government, which ultimately retracted any mention of Kate’s presence.
Communication about Kate’s health contrasts sharply with the transparency efforts led by Buckingham Palace around Charles III’s cancer. Although the nature of this situation has not been clarified, the king is regularly photographed at the few official functions he continues to occupy, including interviews with prime ministers or foreign diplomats.