For most of 2024, the idea of the collective world was stuck with the Princess of Wales and her whereabouts and well-being. After a planned abdominal surgery in May, by the end of the month, the world seemed to spiral a little out of control and lose its mind a little bit, but now spurred by what has become known in one word — Photogate - in early May. By the end of the month (3/22 to be precise, about 1 month after the fever surrounding Kate began), Kate released a heartfelt video message announcing that she was diagnosed with cancer and being treated. In that message, she demanded time, space and privacy for healing, and then, for more than two months, was almost completely absent from the public eye.

Kate appeared to prefer to rely on the family, especially her parents, Michael and Carol Middleton, and her siblings, Pippa and James, during this time, according to a source speaking to Daily Beast's Tom Sykes, who said the "circle of trust is small." "She was surrounded by Carol and Michael, and Pippa and James were also obviously there for her. They are an incredibly tight family, and Catherine is absolutely confident in relying on them. They were there for her for decades and never let her down."

Not only has Kate been absent from official duties, but the last royal engagement she undertook was the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham along with the rest of the Royal family — as well as the family's 4-bedroom home in Windsor, Adelaide Cottage, or Prince George, Princess Charlotte. Charlotte, Prince Louis preferred to stay in the family's country house on the Sandringham Estate, Anmer Hall, while taking a break from the Lambrook School (as they would in short order). Fellow parents of Lambrook told the daily beast that she is not seen at sports matches or other school events that she and Prince William usually attend, but is understood to have occasionally performed school runs, one parent said, while maintaining a low profile.

"There were rumors that she made a drop-off, but I haven't seen her since the video," they said. "We all feel very protective of her," she said. Ask anyone in the school — they are great parents.

Marie Claire reported today that it could be until 2025 before Kate returns to official duties.She continues to (understandably) focus on her health and, as a source told OK, "No one is urging Kate to do anything but recover, but she's still feeling a lot of pressure to get back to her duties and be even more perfect than before." She takes time to heal but is William's good spouse who takes care of her children and her responsibility for her work weighs heavily on Kate"

It does not help the pressure cooker King Charles —who is also battling cancer, after his announced May 5 routine prostate surgery— has returned to public duty, he said. A re-entry into public life in the US is happening on May 30. "Kate has the guilt that Charles, who is also fighting cancer, is playing his part," they said. (It should also be noted that here the role of the monarch and the role of the princess of Wales are not the same and should not be treated as such. Speaking to the Daily Mail's Richard Eden, the source said: "As a sovereign, His Majesty is in a very different position from the Princess of Wales. She does not need to be seen while she is recovering.

OK reports that "the princess is still being treated for exhaustion," but feels "she doesn't want to delay further returning to work as a royal.""But outside of her own health — remains a priority —"Kate's first instinct as a mother is to give George, Charlotte and Louis all her attention, but she struggles with trying to do it all. "

In her column for the Daily Mail, Royal correspondent Rebecca English said, "The princess has been seen with her family in recent weeks and many more," and as she recovers, Buckingham Palace is inundated with "tens of thousands" of get well soon cards and gifts to Kate, and the Palace's communications team has been informed. She is "very touched" by the love and affection shown to her. "The sheer amount of communication was sometimes difficult for the team to deal with," English wrote. But the staff eventually aims to reply to all the writers.

The English said, "During the normal week, the palace expected to receive up to 1,000 letters each week from members of the public with various queries and messages of good wishes for individual royals." But what they have experienced since the disclosure of the princess's health problems has been superseded by it.”