Kate Middleton’s Abdominal Surgery and Recovery: A Complete Timeline

After it was announced that Kate Middleton underwent a “planned” (translation: “not emergency”) abdominal surgery for an unspecified issue, the internet has been abuzz with theories ranging from speculation to outright conspiracy.

And while the Princess of Wales deserves to recover in privacy, the lack of clarity—even the vague updates—from the Palace have kept many curious, particularly over on X.com (Twitter).

So to separate fact from fabrication, here’s everything that’s actually been reported and/or verified about the mom of three’s health, starting with the latest updates:

March 10, 2024: Kate Middleton shared her first personal statement since her abdominal surgery alongside a new family portrait taken by Prince William. According to BBC News, the photo of Middleton and her three children was taken earlier this week in Windsor.

“Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months,” the princess wrote for the photo caption. “Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day.” The note was signed signed “C” for Catherine.

March 6, 2024: Time reports that the U.K. army has quietly removed Middleton from their list of confirmed attendees for this year’s Trooping the Colour ceremony in June. That same day, a rep for Prince William responds to all the online speculation, telling People that Will’s “focus is on his work and not on social media.”

March 4, 2024: TMZ shares a grainy photo of Middleton in the passenger seat of a car driven by her mom, Carole Middleton. This marks the first time the princess has been spotted since December.

February 27, 2024: Prince William abruptly pulls out of a memorial service for King Constantine of Greece at Windsor Castle (his father’s late cousin) due to a “personal matter,” prompting speculation. The party line given to NBC News is that the princess “continues to do well.” It should be noted that two other members of William’s family—his father, King Charles III, and his aunt Sarah Ferguson—are being treated for cancer.

(Around this time conspiracy theorists say that the rest of Kate Middleton’s family are also “missing,” which is not true.)

January 29, 2024: Two weeks after her admission, Kensington Palace announces that the princess has gone home to Windsor to continue recovering there. William plans to cut back on and postpone many of his royal duties so he can take care of the couple’s three kids while his wife recuperates.

January 17, 2024: Kensington Palace releases a statement explaining that the Princess of Wales had been admitted to the hospital the previous day for planned abdominal surgery, where she will stay for up to two weeks, and will be missing her previously planned engagements through Easter (March 31) as she recovers.

Christmas, 2023: The Waleses step out for Christmas Day church services. Everyone appears happy and healthy. This is the last time Catherine is seen in public for some time.

This article will be updated. May she recover quickly.