There’s still no timeline for when Kate Middleton might return to a regular schedule of engagements, but with her recent appearance at Trooping the Colour and the release of a sweet new photo snapped by the Princess of Wales herself, it’s starting to seem like a bit of a return to normalcy for the Waleses.
Today, the family shared a new picture in honor of Prince William’s birthday. It features the Prince of Wales playing around with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis at the shore. Taken in Norfolk last month by Kate, the photo features the quartet in the middle of a big leap on the sand dunes. On social, it was accompanied by a personal message from Kate which read, “Happy birthday Papa, we all love you so much! Cx.”
Though the setting looks similar, the new image appears to have been taken on a different day than the sweet seaside snap the Waleses shared to mark Father’s Day this week, as the royals are all wearing different clothes.
Earlier this year, the Waleses sparked controversy with the photo released for Mother’s Day after the image was recalled by agencies due to evidence of editing. Kate apologized for altering the photo; however the incident came in the midst of rampant internet speculation about the princess’s long absence from the public eye, and shortly thereafter, Kate shared her cancer diagnosis and revealed that she had been undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
Last weekend, Kate made her first major appearance in months, riding in a carriage with her kids for Trooping the Colour. Though fans were understandably excited by this turn of events, Kensington Palace has cautioned that it shouldn’t be taken as a return to royal duties. “My treatment is ongoing and will be for a few more months,” Kate wrote in a personal letter ahead of the event. “On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home.”
Lauren Hubbard is a freelance writer and Town & Country contributor who covers beauty, shopping, entertainment, travel, home decor, wine, and cocktails.