The Princess of Wales, Catherine, known as Kate Middleton, has resumed her work from home on a project focused on child health while she continues to recover from abdominal surgery and prepares for her return to public life, according to reports from the Daily Telegraph on Thursday.
The Kensington Palace—the official residence of the Prince and Princess of Wales—confirmed to that newspaper that Middleton has been told of the highly positive results from a study conducted by the Early Childhood Center of the Princess Royal Foundation. The study centers on a tool designed to observe early social and emotional development signals in babies.
Her gradual return to charitable work marks a new phase in her reentry into normal duties after surgery on January 16. Since then, the princess has not appeared at public engagements, fueling speculation about her health.
This week, first reports emerged of alleged images showing the princess with her husband and the heir to the British throne, William, shopping at a farm on Windsor Castle grounds where the couple reside.
The news about her foundation work comes the day after it was reported that at least three employees at the private London Clinic, where Middleton underwent surgery, are under investigation for allegedly attempting to access her medical records.
British press recently published unconfirmed information that Kensington Palace has begun planning Middleton’s return to public activities in a slow, steady manner.
A team consisting of close advisers to William and Kate, along with communications experts and former aides, is reportedly consulting on how to resume the official agenda and calm a crisis of trust sparked by issues such as a self-retouched photo of the princess circulating on social media.
In that team, according to the sensational Daily Mirror, lies the princess’s new private secretary, Tom White, who previously advised Queen Elizabeth II before her passing.
The Times noted in its Wednesday edition that her advisers have suggested a potential public reappearance at the Easter Sunday service on March 31, in Windsor’s St George’s Chapel.
The newspaper later withdrew that information, stating it was not confirmed by Kensington Palace in its online edition.