Has Not Appeared Since Abdominal Surgery Around January
Husband Crown Prince William Also Paused Public Activities for 3 Weeks
Concerns and various suspicions have arisen regarding the whereabouts of Catherine, Princess of Wales, who has been recuperating since her surgery last January, as a seven-week gap in her public appearances continues. Most notably, the Princess of Wales has not been seen since undergoing abdominal surgery on January 16 and being hospitalized for about two weeks, with no photos released of her discharge or convalescence.
As suspicions grew, the royal family announced her hospitalization and explained that she would not return to duties before Easter on March 31. Given the lengthy hospitalization and recovery period and the absence of photos, it is speculated that the surgery was not a minor one. Furthermore, recent cessation of public activities by her husband, Prince William, for three weeks has fueled speculation that the Princess of Wales’s health condition is serious.
Adding fuel to the suspicions, Prince William, who resumed activities, announced his personal absence from the memorial service for the late King of Greece held at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on February 27, less than an hour before the event. While the royal family maintains that the Princess of Wales is still recovering, the doubts have yet to subside.
The Prince and Princess of Wales More Popular Than King Charles III and Queen Consort
The couple in their 40s enjoys greater public popularity than King Charles III and the Queen Consort. The British royal family traditionally follows the principle of "Never Complain, Never Explain" (NCNE) regarding family matters, but this tradition was shaken when King Charles III, during his time as Prince of Wales, had conflicts with Diana and an affair with Camilla Parker Bowles (now Queen Camilla), and when Prince Harry, who broke away from the royal family, published his autobiography.
Prince William and his wife, and Prince Harry and his wife. Last year, Prince Harry, the younger brother of Prince William, published his autobiography "Spare," revealing detailed accounts of family conflicts and experiences with drug use. [Photo by AP·Yonhap News]
Diana cooperated with royal biographer Andrew Morton on 'Diana, Her True Story' and appeared on the BBC, causing a stir by referring to Charles and Camilla’s affair with the remark, "There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded." Last year, Prince Harry, the younger brother of Prince William, published his autobiography 'Spare,' revealing detailed accounts of family discord and drug use experiences.
Despite these upheavals, the royal family continues to maintain its stance of neither complaining nor explaining to the public. Meanwhile, as the Princess of Wales’s absence lengthens, all kinds of speculation have emerged. In January, Concha Calleja, a presenter of the Spanish terrestrial channel Telecinco’s news program, claimed on air that "after the surgery, she was in a major crisis, and the medical staff had to give their all."
Most notably, King Charles III, who publicly disclosed his cancer diagnosis around the same time as the Princess of Wales’s surgery, has shown images of his discharge, meetings with the Prime Minister, and receiving get-well cards, which contrasts with the silence surrounding the Princess of Wales. Kensington Palace has reiterated that the Princess of Wales will continue to rest until Easter and that no additional information will be released unless there is a significant change.
Regarding the controversy, the BBC pointed out, "Buckingham Palace feels the need to show the reigning monarch performing some duties, but the pressure for the Princess of Wales to be publicly revealed is different," adding, "He is not the king."
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