Kate Middleton is spotted for the first time since a health emergency sidelined her from her royal duties the Princess of Wales is pictured in photos obtained by TMZ on March 4th that show the Royal sitting in the passenger seat of a car driven by her mother the two were Photographed near Windsor Castle in the UK where Kate has been recovering since her abdominal surgery in January prior to March 4th the princess's last public appearance was on Christmas day when she stepped out alongside her family for their annual walk to Christmas Day services at St Mary Magdalene just last Week a spokesperson for the princess reiterated Kate's wishes for privacy amid her surgery recovery telling E news in a statement on February 29th Kensington Bas made it clear in January the timelines of the princess's recovery and we'd only be providing significant updates that guidance stands adding that Kate is quote doing well and in late January the 42-year-old was released from a 2-e hospital stay following a planned procedure after her departure from the hospital the palace provided a brief update saying quote she is making good progress the prince and princess wish to say a huge thank you to the Entire team at the London Clinic especially the dedicated nursing staff for the care they have provided the Wales family continues to be grateful for the well wishes they have received from around the world and although the palace wouldn't disos the nature of her ailment other than sharing it was Non-cancerous Kate who shares children Prince George princess Charlotte and Prince Louis with husband Prince William is expected to be out of the public eye for a bit longer the palace said back in January that the princess is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter continuing the Princess of Wales Appreciates the interest this statement will generate she hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normal for her children as possible and her wish that her personal medical information remains Private