Kate Middleton is 'easing back to work' with special project after conspiracy theories

The Princess of Wales has secretly returned to work after her abdominal surgery, Kensington Palace has confirmed.

Kate Middleton, 42, has not been spotted in any official capacity after planned abdominal surgery, which took place earlier this year.

However, while all her official engagements have been cancelled (with the Princess thought to be out of action until after Easter at the earliest), Kate has still been working on a project she holds close to her heart.

The Princess’s Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood is behind funding for a trial of a baby observation tool, which is to be used by health visitors to improve how they spot signs of social and emotional development in young children. The results are “overwhelmingly positive”, Kensington Palace told The Telegraph.

“The Princess has been kept updated throughout the process,” they added in a statement to the newspaper.

Cosmopolitan UK has also contacted Kensington Palace for comment.

The news of Kate’s return to work comes after weeks of fevered speculation about her whereabouts and wellbeing.

Speculation reached fever pitch when the Palace released a picture of Kate with her three children for Mother’s Day. However, it quickly transpired that the pictures had been edited.

The Princess herself took responsibility for the edits, and apologised for confusion the picture may have caused.

"Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing," she wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day. C."

More footage was then released of Kate Middleton and Prince William visiting Windsor Farm Shop.

In the newly-released clip, Kate looks to be in good spirits, beaming as she walks alongside her husband, carrying shopping bags.

Kimberley Bond

Multiplatform Writer

Kimberley Bond is a Multiplatform Writer for Harper’s Bazaar, focusing on the arts, culture, careers and lifestyle. She previously worked as a Features Writer for Cosmopolitan UK, and has bylines at The Telegraph, The Independent and British Vogue among countless others.