AP London

London

Updated Monday, March 11, 2024-00:27

  • The controversial photo Kate Middleton reappears with a message on the networks after her operation: "Thank you for your good wishes and continued support"

The first photo of Kate, Princess of

Wales,

since her

abdominal operation

almost two months ago was published on Sunday after weeks of speculation about her whereabouts.

But the photo was later removed by

The Associated Press

and other news agencies because it appeared manipulated, fueling more speculation.

The photo of Kate in a chair surrounded by her three children was credited to her husband,

William, Prince of Wales

and heir to the throne, and was said to have been taken earlier in the week in

Windsor.

"Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the past two months," Kate said on social media.

"Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day."

The AP initially published the photo, which had been

released by Kensington Palace.

But AP later retracted the image because, upon closer examination,

it appeared that the source had manipulated

the image in a way that did not meet AP's photography standards.

The photo shows an inconsistency in the alignment of

Princess Charlotte's

left hand .

The release of the photo followed weeks of gossip on social media about what had happened to Kate since she left the hospital on January 29 after a nearly two-week stay following a scheduled operation.

She had not been seen publicly since Christmas Day.

Royal Family Earrings

The royal family has been under more scrutiny than usual in recent weeks, with both Kate and King Charles III unable to carry out their usual public duties due to health concerns.

Royal officials say Charles is receiving treatment for an unspecified form of cancer, which was discovered during treatment for an enlarged prostate.

The monarch has canceled all of his public engagements while he receives treatment, although he has been photographed walking to church and meeting privately with government officials and dignitaries.

Kate, 42, underwent surgery on January 16 and her condition and the reason for the procedure have not been revealed, although Kensington Palace, Prince William and Kate's office

said it was not related to cancer.

Although the palace initially said it would only provide significant updates and that she would not return to royal duties before Easter - March 31 this year - it followed up with a statement last month amid rumors and conspiracy theories saying she was doing well and reiterating his previous statement.

"Kensington Palace made clear in January the timeline for the princess's recovery and that we would only provide significant updates," the palace said on February 29.

"That orientation remains."