LONDON - Confusion reigned on Tuesday over the announcement by the British Army of Catherine, Princess of Wales's first official duty since undergoing surgery at her father-in-law King Charles III's birthday celebrations in June.
The British Army initially said that Catherine, who is married to heir to the throne Prince William, would review soldiers on June 8 as part of the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony.
Kate and William's Kensington Palace office did not formally confirm her appearance and the Army later removed a reference to it from its website.
That came just 24 hours after Kate was spotted in public for the first time since she underwent abdominal surgery in January, according to photos published by US outlet TMZ.
The army's website listed the king, who is being treated for cancer, as attending the main military parade on June 15, which marks his official birthday.
The 42-year-old princess has been recovering mainly at the home she shares with William and their three young children in Windsor, west of London, since leaving hospital on January 29.
The photos published by TMZ showed Kate wearing sunglasses while being driven by her mother in a car. The celebrity news site said the images were taken on Monday near Windsor Castle.
Social media has been alight with conspiracy theories over the princess's prolonged absence from the spotlight. Rather than suppressing rumours, Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty Magazine, said the photograph had "generated more speculation".
"It's a tricky situation because we're all entitled to our privacy when we are unwell," he told AFP.
"But when you are a member of the royal family that is quite complicated and difficult to maintain, there is naturally a huge amount of public interest."