Kate Middleton's apology as she underwent abdominal surgery
The surgery announcement was the catalyst for months of speculation about the princess' whereabouts
This weekend marks the two-year anniversary of the moment Kensington Palace revealed that Kate Middleton had undergone major abdominal surgery.
Looking back, this timeline shows how a planned medical procedure became the unexpected start of a deeply personal health battle.
Kate Middleton issues apology as she undergoes surgery
On January 17, 2024, Kensington Palace released a statement confirming that Kate had undergone “planned abdominal surgery” the previous day.
The surgery was deemed successful. However, the palace added that the princess was expected to remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days and would not return to public duties until after Easter.
Crucially, the statement included a personal note from the princess herself.
It read: “The Princess of Wales wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements. She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible.”
Kate also emphasised her hope to maintain a sense of normalcy for her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
At first, public reaction was empathetic. Kate had been seen just weeks earlier during the traditional Christmas Day walkabout in Sandringham.
In the run-up to the holidays, she’d carried out a packed schedule, opening a children’s surgical unit at Evelina London, hosting the Together at Christmas concert at Westminster Abbey, and attending the Buckingham Palace Diplomatic Reception.
Kate was discharged from The London Clinic on January 29. By late February, however, questions began to mount. When Prince William unexpectedly pulled out of a memorial service on February 27 due to a “personal matter,” speculation about the princess’ prolonged absence exploded across social media.
By March, wild theories about Kate were sending the internet into meltdown with some people even bizarrely claiming she had been cloned. The palace’s silence only intensified the public frenzy.
Princess Kate’s Mother’s Day editing scandal
In late February, a palace spokesperson had reiterated that no new updates would be issued unless they were significant.
“We were very clear from the outset that the Princess of Wales was out until after Easter,” they said. They added that Kate was “doing well”.
But speculation boiled over on March 10, when the palace shared a Mother’s Day photo of Kate with her children, reportedly taken by Prince William. The warm family image was meant to quell rumours. Instead, it had the opposite effect.
Hours later, major news agencies, including the Associated Press, issued a rare “kill notice”. They claimed that the image had been digitally altered.
Sharp-eyed viewers had already noticed inconsistencies. Princess Charlotte’s sleeve didn’t align with her hand, a knee appeared blurred, and Kate’s zipper looked misaligned.
On March 11, Kate attempted to explain.
“Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,” she wrote in a public apology. “I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion.”
Still, by then, the rumour mill had reached a fever pitch.
Princess of Wales announces cancer diagnosis
Finally, on March 22, 2024, the Princess of Wales released a personal video message that put the speculation to rest.
Seated on a garden bench and speaking directly to the camera, the Princess of Wales revealed that post-surgical tests had discovered cancer. She had already begun preventative chemotherapy.
“It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment,” she said. “But most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte, and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them.”
Kate thanked the public for their support and asked for privacy as she continued treatment.
In the months that followed, the princess received an outpouring of global support. In September 2024, she confirmed that she had completed chemotherapy. And by January 2025, she shared that she was officially in remission.
She said: “It is a relief to now be in remission. I remain focused on recovery. As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal.”
Since then, Kate has made a gradual return to public life.
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