Timeline from Kate Middleton's surgery to botched family portrait

After much speculation on Kate Middleton's health after tummy tuck surgery, Kensington Palace released a photo on Sunday that broke the internet for its poor editing job. Although the image featured Catherine, Princess of Wales, with her three laughing children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — in honor of Britain's Mother's Day, it made international headlines for revealing distorted and blurred fingers, a missing sleeve. and uneven zippers. One social media user speculates Middleton's face retrieved by an ex Fashion cover, while another thought the image was taken last year.

The image, which appeared to be aimed at promoting Middleton's steady recovery, fueled additional rumors about the royal family's health and prompted calls for increased transparency within the royal family. Here's a timeline from Middleton's initial hospitalization to the much-talked-about family portrait.

December 25, 2023

On Christmas Day, Middleton attended the annual service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, the royal family's estate in Norfolk, England. The Princess of Wales was pictured wearing a royal blue coat and hat, alongside her husband Prince William and their three children. King Charles III and Queen Camilla also attended the morning service. The ceremony marked the first royal family gathering since Charles and Camilla's coronation in May and Middleton's last official public appearance before the operation.

January 17, 2024

Middleton was admitted to the London clinic for scheduled non-cancerous abdominal surgery on January 16, according to announcement from Kensington Palace. The Princess of Wales would remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days, followed by recovery at home.

On the same day as the news of Middleton's hospitalization, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles will receive treatment for a “benign” enlarged prostate, a condition common in men over 50 according to Britain National Health System. Like Middleton, he would also have to postpone engagements during his recovery at the London clinic.

January 18, 2024

Prince William visited his wife on January 18 and was caught driving away from the London Clinic. He delayed his own public appearances to spend more time with his wife.

January 26, 2024

Before King Charles was admitted to the London clinic for treatment of an enlarged prostate, he checked on his daughter-in-law who was undergoing surgery.

January 29, 2024

Middleton is discharged from the London Clinic and returns to Adelaide Cottage, the couple's royal residence at Windsor Castle, for a months-long recovery. “She is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter,” a Jan. 17 statement said, and although surgery was scheduled, she postponed further engagements.

King Charles was also dismissed on January 29 and was was photographed leaving the hospital with Queen Camilla.

February 5, 2024

On February 5, the Palace announced that doctors had detected a “form of cancer” while performing diagnostic tests on King Charles. Although he has been told to postpone public duties during his planned treatments, King Charles will “continue” to work behind the scenes on “State business and official documents”. according to a Kensington Palace statement at the time.

“His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope that it can help build public understanding for all those around the world who have been affected by cancer,” the February 5 statement said.

February 29, 2024

While Middleton underwent weeks of recovery at home, the Internet began to do what it does best: spin conspiracy theories. While some users speculated that the royal was preparing for an appearance on The Masked Singer, planning a visit to botched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory extravaganza in Glasgow, heading to Scotland to join his cast The Traitors, or fly to Miami for BBL — it takes about two to three months to fully recover. The social media uproar over Middleton's whereabouts is ruffling the feathers of a royal family spokesperson who told New York Post, “Kensington Palace made clear in January the timelines for the Princess' recovery and we will only provide important updates. This guidance applies.”

Following online rumors and conspiracies, Prince William's spokesman offered clarification in a statement to People March 6: “His focus is on his work and not on social media.”

March 4, 2024

TMZ caught up a grainy image of what appears to be the Princess of Wales riding in the passenger seat of a car, near Windsor Castle. The image appears to depict the royal wearing dark shades and being led by her mother Carole Middleton. The Daily Mail He also speculated that the photo was taken early in the morning after Kate Middleton dropped off her children.

March 10, 2024

Weeks of speculation led to the strange picture of the valley posted on the official social media accounts of the Prince and Princess of Wales on March 10. Several news organizations have removed a photo released by Kensington Palace of Middleton and her three children in honor of Mother's Day in Britain. News media including Associated Press, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse announced on Sunday that the photo contained editorial concerns and inconsistencies, with AP issuing a “kill order” and asking all participating newsrooms to remove the image from all their platforms. Kensington Palace claimed that CNN that Prince William took the picture earlier this week.

March 11, 2024

After the intentional removal and online theory about the family portrait, Middleton took to social media on Monday to clear the air, claiming she edited the photo herself.

Although the royal did not specify which parts of the image she edited, the internet quickly ripped apart the photo, specifically showing the hand of one of her children, as the alignment of Princess Charlotte's left arm with her sleeve. Middleton, a photography enthusiast, apologized for the photoshopped photo.

“Like many amateur photographers, I occasionally experiment with editing,” he said in a statement. “I wanted to apologize for any confusion caused by the family photo we shared yesterday. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother's Day.”