Kate Middleton has released a message and a new photo with her children to mark Mother's Day after two and a half months out of the spotlight.
The Princess of Wales thanked fans for their support during her recovery from abdominal surgery after she went under a procedure on January 16.
Social media erupted in wild conspiracy theories and speculation, with many joking that she was "missing," after she had not been seen publicly since Christmas Day.
Kate used her official account on X, formerly Twitter, to post a message to supporters: "Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day. C."
Attached was a picture of taken by Prince William, which Kensington Palace said was taken this week. Four picture agencies later pulled the image over concerns it had been manipulated.
A palace press release read: "A new picture of The Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis was posted on our social media channels today to mark Mother's Day.
"The image was taken in Windsor earlier this week by the Prince of Wales."
The Twitter message, singed "C" for Catherine, came after weeks of speculation, including a conspiracy theory spread by a Spanish journalist suggesting she was in a medically induced coma which the palace told Newsweek was "ludicrous."
Social media posts suggesting she was "missing" went viral, earning millions of views and creating a major headache for palace aides, who had always said she would not be back in the public eye until after Easter as she recovered from her surgery.
However, matters escalated when TMZ ran paparazzi pictures taken in Windsor of Kate in the front passenger seat of a car driven by her mother, Carole Middleton.
And as King Charles III has continued to appear in public while undergoing treatment for cancer many struggled to understand why there had been no picture of Kate.
Kensington Palace will be hoping the image and message draw a line under a saga that has threatened to put the princess under pressure even as she seeks to step away from the public eye to focus on her health.
Jack Royston is Newsweek's chief royal correspondent based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Jack Royston is Newsweek's Chief Royal Correspondent based in London, U.K. He reports on the British royal family—including King Charles ... Read more
