When and where could the Princess of Wales return to public life?
The question of when the Princess of Wales will return to public life has been front and centre of everyone's minds since she underwent abdominal surgery in January.
Following Kate Middleton's announcement that she has cancer and is undergoing preventative chemotherapy, the answer to that question is more uncertain than ever.
It had initially been suggested that Kate, 42, who has not been seen on any official appearances since Christmas Day 2023, would return to public life after Easter.
But her announcement revealing she is undergoing cancer treatment included an emphasis on the fact she plans to focus on making a full recovery, which means it remains unknown when she will be back carrying out public duties.
The Waleses are not expected to join other royals for the traditional Easter service in Windsor as the young family continues to take time and space to come to terms with Kate’s cancer diagnosis.
In her video message on Friday, Kate said: “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.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reached out privately to Kate and William following her announcement, the BBC reported on Saturday.
Earlier, Harry and Meghan had issued a statement, saying: “We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace.”
Speculation had been swirling around the princess in recent weeks - made more acute after she was filmed on a trip to a farm shop with her husband.
Video footage, published by The Sun, showed Kate and William visiting the local business in Windsor, a short drive from their Adelaide Cottage home in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
The footage came following a raft of unfounded conspiracy theories about Kate, as well as the furore over her editing a family portrait that was released to the media.
What the Palace has said
Up until The Princess of Wales's video message on Friday 22 March, only a limited number of statements about Kate had been released following her admission to the London Clinic for surgery in January.
The palace's initial statement said she would be in hospital for up to 14 days before continuing her recovery at home.
The statement from Kensington Palace stated that “based on the current medical advice”, Kate would be “unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter”. Another statement was released about her return home.
In her announcement saying she is having treatment for cancer, the princess referred to her return to public duties, but gave no timeline for when she will be back in public life.
A Kensington Palace spokesman added that the “Princess will return to official duties when she is cleared to do so by her medical team".
“She is in good spirits and is focused on making a full recovery.”
The Prince of Wales is due to return to public duties after his children return to school following the Easter break.
A Palace spokesman said: “Their Royal Highnesses understand the interest this update will generate and are grateful for the public support they have received throughout this period.
“Kensington Palace will provide information, when the time is right, and the princess is able to restart work and her duties.
“In the meantime, we would ask that the family’s privacy is respected.”
A running commentary on Kate’s health is not expected as she will need the time, space and privacy to fully recover.
It would be likely that Kensington Palace will only provide further updates on Kate’s plans to return to public events when the time is deemed appropriate.
Kate’s own views on whether she wants to attend events and if she feels able to, along with medical advice, would form part of the decision-making process.
It should also be expected that any initial public events will not necessarily signal a return to a regular public schedule.
What events are coming up?
Some had speculated that Easter would mark the return to public life for Kate, but she and William are now not expected to join the royals at Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel for the Easter Sunday service.
That means any return to public life is likely to be later in the year.
There are two major official engagement that Kate could attend after 17 April – the first being Trooping the Colour on 8 June. This major event previously sparked confusion when the army included Kate's name on its website as potentially attending then later removed it, apparently because they did not seek approval from Kensington Palace before publishing the page.
Another event is Royal Ascot, which takes place on 18 June and is usually attended by senior royals. There is currently no mention of Kate’s future engagements on the official schedule, so it remains to be seen if she is ready to return to public duties by that time.
In the wake of Kate's announcement, royal expert Joe Little - editor of Majesty magazine - said it was “inevitable” that the number of royal engagements would have to be reduced, adding “the royal diaries will have been revised anyway because of these health considerations”.
He said public engagements were “clearly not on the cards for some time” for both Charles and Kate, adding that the Princess’s situation was “complicated” by her young family.
Little noted that the “time of British pomp and pageantry” in June was approaching with “all manner of high profile events” such as the Trooping the Colour and Royal Ascot.
He said the Queen would “certainly” be attending engagements “she otherwise would have not done on a solo basis”, including the annual Maundy Service on 28 March where Camilla will be distributing the Royal Maundy gifts on behalf of Charles at Worcester Cathedral.
No engagements may be officially planned for Kate, but a source previously told the Sunday Times that she and William are still planning to release a birthday photo of their youngest son, Prince Louis, who turns six on 23 April.
They will reportedly continue the tradition of releasing photographs marking their children's birthdays – despite the recent controversy over the editing of Kate's Mother’s Day image.
What events did Kate attend around this time last year?
The Princess of Wales attended several events and occasions in March last year, two months before the Coronation of King Charles.
She delighted a seven-year-old girl on 1 March by accepting flowers from her when she visited the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards for their St David’s Day parade.
One week later, on 8 March, Kate braved freezing temperatures to take part in an exercise on Salisbury Plain. The simulated exercise involved Kate assisting Lance Corporal Jodie Newell in administering 'first aid' to a soldier suffering a gunshot wound.
The next day, Kate and William met volunteers at the Hayes Muslim Centre in west London. The pair were there to thank those involved in the aid effort supporting survivors of the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
On 17 March, Kate and William celebrated St Patrick’s Day alongside the Irish Guards, at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire. Kate hailed their “boundless, irreverent, glorious sense of humour”.
Kate also launched her Business Taskforce for Early Childhood on 21 March. She urged business leaders to prioritise wellbeing in the workplace to support family life.
