Spotted: Catherine, Princess of Wales out, about and — from the looks of it — not Photoshopped.
The 42-year-old royal, who’s been the center of controversy, memes and conspiracy theories as she’s flown under the radar following surgery in January, was seen with Prince William this Saturday at the Windsor Farm Shop, located about a mile from their Windsor residence, according to footage of the couple obtained by TMZ.
Filmed from a parking lot, Kate sports athleisure and a light jacket as she and 41-year-old William, wearing a baseball-cap and jeans, smile while chatting and carrying shopping bags as they pass other customers.
The sighting came less than a week after the princess took the fall for a “manipulated” photo shared by Kensington Palace in honor of the U.K.’s Mother’s Day, marking what would have been the first official snap of Kate in months. The photo was pulled by news outlets including the Associated Press, which issued a “kill notice” for the manipulated photo.
The palace announced in mid-January that she had just undergone “successful” and previously planned abdominal surgery and would not return to royal duties until after Easter.
While King Charles was hospitalized at the same time and has continued to make public appearances amid his cancer diagnosis and treatment, the stark contrast to Kate’s relationship with the public has fueled speculation.
Some theorized that Kate was in a coma due to complications from the surgery or had pulled a “Gone Girl,” with the conjecture intensifying to such a degree that the palace issued a rare statement in an attempt to squash it.
Noting that Kate was “doing well,” the palace reiterated their “very clear” initial remarks on the timeline of her recovery and return to public life.
