‘Happy and healthy’ Princess Kate spotted out and about for first time since surgery as she visits farm shop with Wills
PRINCESS Kate took her first steps towards a return to official engagements with a trip to her favourite farm shop.
Onlookers said she looked “happy, relaxed and healthy” on the visit a mile from her Adelaide Cottage home in Windsor on Saturday.
In a further boost yesterday, Kate and William spent the morning watching children George, ten, Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five, take part in sports.
The sightings come amid wild speculation and gossip about her health and whereabouts which left the royal couple “devastated”.
Even Kim Kardashian waded in with a dig — posting a series of selfies with the caption: “On my way to go find Kate.”
Kate was further embroiled in hurtful criticism over a Mother’s Day picture which she altered using Photoshop.
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A witness at the farm shop in Windsor said: “After all the rumours that had been going round I was stunned to see them there. Kate was out shopping with William and she looked happy and she looked well.
“The kids weren’t with them but it’s such a good sign she was healthy enough to pop down to the shops.”
There was more encouraging news for the Royal Family yesterday as Kate was watching her sporty kids.
King Charles, who is receiving cancer treatment, was able to spend the weekend at his Highgrove home in Gloucestershire.
Kate was last seen on public duty on Christmas Day, and has been unable to carry out official engagements since her operation in January.
She is unlikely to return until after April 17 when her children go back to Lambrook School, near Ascot, following the Easter holidays.
Palace sources said Kate is keen to speak about her health battle — but only when she returns to frontline duties.
One friend said: “She and William are at their most open when out interacting with the public.
“I can see a world in which the Princess might discuss her recovery out on engagements.
“If she was going to do it, that’s how she would do it.
“They appreciate the public’s love and affection for their children and know there is a public appetite to see them on their birthdays.”
Kensington Palace maintains Kate is “doing well” and will offer only significant updates as she recovers.
The friend said Wills and Kate had been “shaken” by the online hysteria over her health and the fallout over her Mother’s Day snap.
But they said the couple refused to be pushed into revealing details until they are ready.
The pal added: “They will want to be clear and more open, but they’ll do it when they feel ready.
“I would expect that to be her instinct and it will be her call. They are not going to be rushed.”
Kate was discharged 13 days after her January operation.
But as she recuperated speculation grew online over her health.
It was stoked further when William pulled out of a memorial service last month over a mystery “personal matter”.
“Katespiracies” have ranged from her getting cosmetic surgery to appearing as a contestant on The Masked Singer, and even being bumped off by the Royal Family.
In a bid to reassure the public she released a Mother’s Day photo — taken by William — of her and the kids.
But it was found to have been photoshopped — which sparked even more hysteria.
Other rubbished claims suggested the Wales’s family Christmas card had been digitally altered.
The Ministry of Defence also had to make an embarrassing U-turn after suggesting Kate would appear at a Trooping the Colour event in June.
Its post was hastily removed from the Army website amid fury at Kensington Palace.
3 CHEERS FOR COLONEL KATE
KATE’s Irish Guards salute her with three cheers — even though she missed their St Patrick’s Day parade.
The regiment gave the Princess of Wales, who serves as its Colonel, a trio of “Hip, hip, hoorays” in a touching gesture yesterday.
The Army explained: “In keeping with tradition, wherever they are in the world, the Irish Guards give a rousing three cheers for the Colonel of the Regiment, HRH the Princess of Wales.”
Meanwhile, Seamus the Irish Wolfhound — the regiment’s mascot — sat in sadness as Kate wasn’t there to hand out a traditional sprig of shamrock.
He led the march in Aldershot, Hants.
Last year, the hound stood to attention as the Princess inspected troops.
LISTEN TO THE KING’S FUNGI
VISITORS to King Charles’ Sandringham Estate this summer will be given special microphones so they can listen to the “voices” of mushrooms.
The King is opening the grounds to a series of Chorus of Life walks.
The estate website says guests will use a “specialised parabolic microphone” to listen to birdsong and “the hidden sounds of plants, lichen and fungi”.
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The technique involves converting electrical conductivity into audio.
Visitors will also be able to go Forest Bathing — a practice that originated in Japan and which connects people to nature through sensory-based activities.