Kensington Palace issue statement on Kate Middleton’s hospital release

On Monday, the British royal family revealed Kate Middleton had been released from hospital, 12 days after they had taken the world by surprise by issuing a statement saying the Princess of Wales had undergone successful surgery for an abdominal problem and would likely not be performing public duties until after Easter.

Princess of Wales “making good progress after operation”

The most recent publication stated the princess had “returned to Windsor to continue her recovery from surgery” and that she was “making good progress”. Kensington Palace also thanked the London Clinic for the care they had provided and said the family was “grateful for the well wishes they have received from around the world.”

Royal silence leads to inevitable speculation

The initial statement outlined the princess’ wishes for her personal medical information to remain private and for “normality” to continue as much as possible for the sake of Princes George and Louis, and Princess Charlotte. Kensington Palace revealed they would only provide further updates on her condition if there was “significant new information to share,” a pledge they were unable to stick to, with their silence leading to intense media speculation, forcing the British Royal House to deny the 42-year-old was suffering from cancer.

Until Monday, there had been no more official news, although we did know Prince William had been visiting his wife in hospital every day and that her mother Carole and sister Pippa had been assisting the Waleses, along with their Spanish nanny. However, it had been reported the couple’s children had not been to see their mother and had instead been communicating with her via video calls.

Rumour mill goes into overdrive

In the continued absence of any official updates, the rumour mill barely stopped turning, as tends to happen.

The global press speculated wildly about the “real” reason for Middleton’s hospital stay, with everything from “serious” postoperative complications, to induced comas, to mental health issues, to plastic surgery touted at one point or another. Whether there was any truth in those rumours or they were simply far-fetched, we are unlikely ever to find out, especially with the Princess of Wales now, it seems, on the road to recovery.

Will Kate Middleton’s royal title be “Queen”?

Having married into the British royal family, Middleton will never actually become Queen. Like Camilla before her, when husband Prince William succeeds Charles III as King, Kate will become Queen Consort.

The Waleses’ first son, 10-year-old Prince George, is second in line to the throne after his father, with siblings Charlotte (eight) and Louis (five) third and fourth. The Crown in the United Kingdom is inherited by the sovereign’s children or by a childless sovereign’s nearest family member on the collateral line.