Catherine, the Princess of Wales, is cognizant of the intense media scrutiny and various conspiracy theories surrounding her recent activities, as reported by The Sunday Times of Britain. The newspaper, quoting unnamed "friends," presented this narrative over the weekend.

Formerly known as Kate Middleton, aged 42, she has largely stayed out of the public eye since admitting that a family portrait she released on March 10 had been digitally manipulated. However, on March 18, footage emerged purportedly showing Kate and Prince William at a market during the weekend.

In the video, which was published by The Sun and TMZ, the princess appeared cheerful, dressed in black leggings and a sweatshirt, while the royal couple carried shopping bags. Kensington Palace declined to offer any comments on the video.

Kate had been on an extended hiatus from public engagements as she recuperated from scheduled abdominal surgery in January, as per Kensington Palace statements.

Notably, Kate was absent from this year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in Aldershot, England, an event she has traditionally attended.

In her absence, Prince William has been fulfilling solo royal duties, such as visiting a youth center and attending the Diana Legacy Awards on March 14.

Despite his commitments, sources close to William emphasized to The Sunday Times that his top priority remains the well-being of the Wales family "bubble."

Roya Nikkhah, the royals editor at The Sunday Times, who authored the article, mentioned that friends of William and Kate expressed hope that their privacy request during her recovery would be honored.

During an appearance on YEPPOST on March 18, Nikkhah commented on the couple: "As parents of three young children, who are not shielded from the media and social media narratives, I think they’re finding it challenging."

The newspaper also hinted that the princess would likely not resume public appearances until mid-April, following the children’s Easter break from school.

Nikkhah stated on YEPPOST: "Regarding the resumption of public duties, that won’t happen until after the children return to school after their holidays, which is on April 17th."

Earlier this year, Kensington Palace had informed NBC News in a statement that Kate was "unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter."

What kind of surgery did Kate Middleton have?

On January 16, the princess underwent a scheduled abdominal surgery and was reported to be "doing well" by a royal spokesperson speaking to NBC News in February.

While the palace has not disclosed specific details regarding the nature of her surgery, a royal spokesperson did confirm that the condition necessitating the procedure was non-cancerous.

Following her surgery, the princess spent 13 days in a London hospital before returning home to continue her recovery. In a statement issued on January 29, Kensington Palace noted that Kate was making "good progress."

Expressing gratitude, the statement conveyed, "The Prince and Princess wish to extend a heartfelt thank you to the entire team at The London Clinic, particularly the dedicated nursing staff, for their exceptional care. The Wales family remains appreciative of the overwhelming support and well wishes received from across the globe."

Where is Kate Middleton?

Kate's prolonged absence from public view has triggered unfounded online speculation about her health and whereabouts.

On February 29, Kensington Palace reiterated that the princess's extended hiatus from royal duties had been pre-planned and announced in advance.

"Kensington Palace had previously outlined the timetable for the Princess's recovery in January, and we had stated that we would only provide significant updates," a spokesperson for the princess stated in a response to NBC News. "That directive remains unchanged."

Despite this clarification, online rumors continued to circulate. In recent months, baseless conspiracy theories suggesting that Kate is missing or underwent undisclosed cosmetic procedures gained traction on social media platforms.

The online chatter intensified earlier in March after Kate shared a photograph for U.K. Mother's Day featuring herself and her children: Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.

The caption on the post shared to William and Kate's official social media page expressed gratitude for well wishes and support received over the past two months, wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day.

Shortly after the portrait's release, several prominent photo agencies issued "kill notices" for the image due to apparent digital alterations.

NBC News reported in March that the photo was likely edited using conventional software like Photoshop, rather than AI. Professional photographs often undergo editing for effects such as color balance and contrast. However, the extent of manipulation in the royal portrait violated the standards of many news agencies. The Associated Press cited an example of the image's inconsistency in Princess Charlotte's hand alignment as a reason for non-compliance with their photo standards.

Following this controversy, Kate appeared to address the issue personally in a social media post.

"On March 11, a message was posted on the official X account of the Prince and Princess of Wales, stating, “Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing. I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day. C.”

What happened to Kate Middleton?

As per Kensington Palace, the princess has taken a planned hiatus from her royal duties for several months to recover from abdominal surgery.

Although she hasn't made any official public appearances since December, there have been a few unofficial sightings of her since her surgery.

On March 4, photographs surfaced showing Kate apparently riding in an SUV driven by her mother, Carole Middleton, near Windsor Castle.

The following week, another photo emerged showing William and Kate together in the back of a Range Rover. Kensington Palace informed NBC News that in this image, the prince and princess were en route to a "private appointment."

The release of the Range Rover photo came shortly after Kate's apology for the "confusion" surrounding her recent family portrait. Subsequently, rumors circulated online alleging digital manipulation of the picture depicting Kate and William.

However, the agency responsible for the Range Rover image, Goff Photos, refuted these claims in a statement on March 12, asserting that the photo underwent only minor cosmetic adjustments and was not digitally altered beyond that.

The agency clarified that while the images of the Prince and Princess of Wales in the Range Rover had been cropped and lightened, no doctoring had taken place.

Nevertheless, unfounded conspiracy theories persist online regarding the princess's current circumstances.