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The royal family has released the first official photo of the Princess of Wales since she underwent surgery that's kept her out of the public eye for months.
The picture of Catherine with her and Prince William's three children was released today in time for Mother's Day in the UK.
"Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months," she said, on social media.
"Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day."
The caption indicates Prince William took the photo and Kensington Palace said it was taken "this week".
The January announcement of Kate's planned abdominal surgery, on the same day as news about King Charles' cancer, shocked the UK and royal watchers globally.
The royal family warned the princess would need as much as two weeks in hospital and be off royal duties until after Easter. She was eventually released in late January, 13 days after her surgery.
Little information about Kate's condition has been revealed beyond that it is not cancerous and the surgery was successful.
Despite Kensington Palace's early warning, the long absence and deliberately vague information – an attempt to protect Kate's privacy – sparked a series of conspiracy theories ranging from funny to concerning to explain her long absence.
The speculation prompted the palace to issue a rare follow-up statement earlier this month.
"Kensington Palace made it clear in January the timelines of the princess' recovery and we'd only be providing significant updates," a representative told multiple media outlets.
"That guidance stands."
While today's portrait was the first official image released by the royal family, a paparazzo snapped a pic of the princess with her mother, Carole Middleton, at Windsor last week.
