Princess Kate looked relieved and natural on shopping trip – she wasn’t trying to hide away, witness says
PRINCESS Kate wasn’t trying to hide away on her shopping trip as she looked relieved and natural, says a witness.
Kate, 42, strolled through Windsor Farm Shop – just a mile from the Wales’ home at Adelaide Cottage – with devoted William by her side on Saturday.
The Sun exclusively revealed the first footage of the Princess of Wales following her abdominal surgery in January.
Mum-of-three Kate dressed down in a hoodie and leggings while carrying her own shopping bag.
Despite appearing fit and healthy, the princess remains under medical guidance to keep off work until next month.
We have chosen to both report her appearance in yesterday’s paper, and show the footage, in a bid to bring an end to what the Palace has called the “madness of social media”.
It comes amid weeks of vile and bullying online behaviour where wild conspiracy theories have spread unchecked.
The Sun revealed yesterday that the Kate was well enough to go shopping at Windsor Farm shop.
Nelson Silva, 40, who took the video, was shopping for steak when he spotted Kate and William in the bread aisle.
He told The Sun: “Kate looked happy and relaxed. They look happy just to be able to go to a shop and mingle.
“Kate looked relieved like it was a success going to a shop. It felt natural.
“I didn’t feel like they were hiding who they were.
“But they didn’t quite know how people would react because there has been this build-up about their whereabouts and I got the sense they just wanted to be swift in there.”
He added: “I just wanted to share with my family footage and show just how normal they were.”
Another eyewitness who watched the footage said it was “exactly what I saw”.
They added: “It’s just a woman shopping with her husband on a Saturday afternoon just like thousands of other couples across the country.
“I’m delighted that she is well and everyone else can see her back on her feet enjoying life again.”
Royal staff are now said to be preparing for Kate’s life in the public again after her lengthy recovery following abdominal surgery.
'Lay off Kate'
THE Sun last week led the way in defending Princess Kate when she was being criticised from all angles over the edited photo saga.
Social media trolls were quick to attack the future Queen over her editing of a Mother’s Day family picture.
Media critics also weighed in with their opinions alongside the idiotic conspiracy theorists, but The Sun stood alone in saying: Lay off Kate.
Our front page blasted: “The furious attacks on the future Queen over her photoshopping of a Mother’s Day family picture are not just absurd.
“They now look like a bullying campaign against a devoted mum, recovering from a serious operation, who simply wanted to offer the public a perfect portrait of her and her kids.
“She meant well, made a mistake and fessed up. Fair enough.
“Now leave her alone to get over her op.”
The Princess of Wales has been absent from royal duties since Christmas Day and is not expected to appear at any engagements until after the Easter holidays.
Now, two former aides who have experience in public relations, have been consulted about Kate’s comeback, reports the Mirror.
The pair are responsible for devising the mum-of-three’s schedule for when she feels healthy and well enough to return, it is understood.
‘MADNESS OF SOCIAL MEDIA’
It comes amid weeks of vile and bullying online behaviour where wild conspiracy theories have spread unchecked.
Some even refused to believe our front page yesterday, despite Wills and Kate having being spotted by members of the public.
The Sun last week called on the world to ‘Lay Off Kate’ after she was harshly criticised for editing her Mother’s Day family photo.
Kensington Palace maintains Kate is “doing well” and will offer only significant updates as she recovers.
She spent 13 nights in hospital after requiring major surgery to her abdomen on January 17 at The London Clinic.
The palace said at the time: “The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.”
But in the past two months the internet has become a cesspit of unfounded gossip.
Conspiracy theories, which are far too ludicrous to be repeated in The Sun, spread around the internet.
Earlier this month a palace spokesman blasted the “madness of social media”.
Kensington Palace has always said she would be out of action until April.
It is now believed that Kate may return after her children’s Easter school holidays in the middle of April.
Royal expert Hugo Vickers spoke exclusively to The Sun and revealed Kate’s short outings are a “good thing” and show the country she is doing well – adding cruel trolls are a “waste of time”.
He said: “We love her dearly. She does a fantastic job, and it’s a pity that people have taken this sort of attitude towards her.
“But supposing there could be, let’s say, some moving footage of her walking around the garden with the children, I would have thought something like that.
“I mean a shopping expedition, a visit to a school match. These are all very positive things.
“These are things which so-called normal parents do very regularly and totally. It’s a thoroughly good thing.
“We don’t need to know everything about Catherine. What we do long to know is that she’s well and up and about and soon you know, taking her place again, because she is an enormous asset to the Royal Family, much loved and much respected.”
