Kate Middleton’s Disappearance ‘Painfully Obvious’ as Royal Family Rolls on Without Her

It has been 80 days since Kate Middleton had planned abdominal surgery, and she has not yet returned to royal duties. A columnist says her disappearance from public life is “painfully obvious” as the House of Windsor moves forward into its busiest season without her.

There’s a Kate-shaped hole within the royal family as their most hectic months begin

Kate Middleton underwent abdominal surgery in January 2024. She remained out of the public eye, save for one photo to commemorate the UK Mother’s Day, until late March. Then, Kate shared a video statement regarding her health.

Kate’s disappearance from public life is “painfully obvious” as the royal family rolls on without her. Royal columnist Daniela Elser of News.com.au explains why.

“On Monday, Buckingham and Kensington Palaces face a milestone Kate moment,” Elser noted. “There was a time period of exactly 80 days between the King’s shocking revelation on 5 February and then the massive sigh of relief on 26 April. Given Kate announced her own diagnosis on 22 March, that means she will pass the 80-day mark, you guessed it, today.”

“In the nearly 80 days of the palace’s princess information blackout, we have learnt exactly nothing about her treatment, her wellbeing, and her condition from the horse’s, or at least the horse-loving family’s, mouth. Kate is sick and has cancer,” Elser continued.

“She, therefore, has exactly the same right to privacy as every other single human being and should be under no obligation to provide hot and cold running updates about her treatment, side effects, and condition. How do you weigh up giving her the space to get well with the requirement to, at some point, say something and to provide something like an update?”