Kate Middleton was spotted Sunday during the royal family’s outing in Balmoral, marking the princess’ first public sighting in more than a month as she continues to focus on her treatment for cancer.
The Princess of Wales and Prince William, both 42, were photographed alongside their eldest child, 11-year-old Prince George, as they attended services at Crathie Kirk church on the Balmoral estate in Scotland, People and Us Weekly reported, citing photos obtained by the Daily Mail.
King Charles, who is also battling cancer, and Queen Camilla were also reportedly in attendance, along with Prince Edward and Sophie, the duchess of Edinburgh, and their son, James.
The sighting of Kate is one of the few in recent months.
In January, Kensington Palace revealed she would likely remain under the radar until after Easter, following “successful” abdominal surgery. Given the simultaneous hospitalization of her 75-year-old father-in-law, and his subsequent cancer diagnosis, many began to speculate on Kate’s health and whereabouts.
In a somber video in late March, Kate revealed she’d been undergoing preventive chemotherapy, and attributed the long-held absence to prioritizing her well-being and that of their young family — which includes Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6.
Though she missed its rehearsal, Kate attended the king’s annual birthday parade, known as Trooping the Colour, in mid-June, marking her first royal appearance since Christmas — which reportedly took a “toll” on Kate. The following month she attended the men’s final at Wimbledon.
At the time, royal expert Katie Nicholl told “Entertainment Tonight” that while Kate “has this sort of swanlike quality about her — she’s sort of gliding on the surface — but beneath the water, I think she’s often paddling quite frantically.”
Multiple headlines about Kate, both related and unrelated to her health, began circulating this month.
Royal biographer and “Catherine, the Princess of Wales” author Robert Jobson reportedly told Hello! magazine that given all she’s been through, Kate does not “want to waste any time on noise, on drama.”
The Daily Beast then cited insiders who noted her treatment was going well following the “brush with mortality.”
It was also at this time that multiple outlets reported the family would travel to Balmoral for family time ahead of the kids going back to school.
Sunday’s sighting also comes on the heels of reports regarding the yearslong tensions between William and his stepmother, who royal expert Christopher Andersen told Us Weekly has “always been a little afraid of” the heir.
While the Duke of Cornwall — who recently removed Camilla’s sister, Annabel Elliot, from the royal payroll after two decades — “tolerates” the queen, they reportedly still have “a lot to overcome” in their relationship.
