PRINCESS Kate took her first steps towards a return to official engagements with a trip to her favourite farm shop.

Onlookers said she looked “happy, relaxed and healthy” on the visit a mile from her Adelaide Cottage home in Windsor on Saturday.

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Princess Kate, pictured here back in the autumn, has taken her first steps towards a return to official engagements with a trip to her favourite farm shopCredit: Alamy

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Onlookers said Kate looked ‘happy, relaxed and healthy’ on the visit alongside WillsCredit: AP

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Kate – pictured here with Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in May – also spent Sunday morning watching her three children take part in sportsCredit: Reuters
In a further boost yesterday, Kate and William spent the morning watching children George, ten, Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five, take part in sports.

The sightings come amid wild speculation and gossip about her health and whereabouts which left the royal couple “devastated”.

Kate was also embroiled in hurtful criticism over a Mother’s Day picture which she altered using Photoshop.

A witness at the farm shop in Windsor said: “After all the rumours that had been going round I was stunned to see them there.
The Sun jumped to Kate’s defence last week when criticism over her edited picture flew from all sides

‘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.”

“Kate was out shopping with William and she looked happy and she looked well.

“The kids weren’t with them but it’s such a good sign she was healthy enough to pop down to the shops.”

There was more encouraging news for the Royal Family yesterday as King Charles, who is receiving cancer treatment, spent the weekend at his Highgrove home in Gloucestershire.

Kate was last seen on public duty on Christmas Day, and has been unable to carry out official engagements since having an operation in January.

She is unlikely to return until after April 17 when her children go back to Lambrook School, near Ascot, following the Easter holidays.

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But last night, it was reported that she has not ruled out making a return to the public eye on Easter Sunday, when she could join her family for the traditional walk to church in Windsor.

Palace sources told The Sunday Times that Kate is keen to speak about her health battle — but only when she returns to frontline duties.

One friend said: “She and William are at their most open when out interacting with the public.

“I can see a world in which the Princess might discuss her recovery out on engagements.

“If she was going to do it, that’s how she would do it.

“They appreciate the public’s love and affection for their children and know there is a public appetite to see them on their birthdays.”

Kensington Palace maintains Kate is “doing well” and will offer only significant updates as she recovers.

The friend said Wills and Kate had been “shaken” by the online hysteria over her health and the fallout over her Mother’s Day snap.

But they said the couple refused to be pushed into revealing details.

The pal added: “They will want to be clear and more open, but they’ll do it when they feel ready.

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Onlookers said she looked ‘happy, relaxed and healthy’ on the visit a mile from her Adelaide Cottage homeCredit: https://yourfarmshop.co.uk/

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The Windsor Farm shop is on the Royal EstateCredit: Doug Seeburg
“I would expect that to be her instinct and it will be her call. They are not going to be rushed.”

Kate was discharged 13 days after her January operation.

But as she recuperated speculation grew online over her health.

It was stoked further when William pulled out of a memorial service last month.

“Katespiracies” have ranged from her getting cosmetic surgery to appearing as a contestant on The Masked Singer.

In a bid to reassure the public she released a Mother’s Day photo — taken by William — of her and the kids.

But it was found to have been photoshopped — which sparked more hysteria.

The Ministry of Defence also had to make an embarrassing U-turn after suggesting Kate would appear at a Trooping the Colour event in June.

Its post was removed from the Army website amid fury at Kensington Palace.

However, the King is said to be determined to attend the event, his official birthday celebrations, if he is well enough.

Aides are looking at ways he could take part, including watching from a podium rather than being on horseback.

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Wills and Kate paid a visit to the shop on Saturday afternoon and mingled with localsCredit: Doug Seeburg

3 CHEERS FOR COLONEL KATE

KATE’s Irish Guards salute her with three cheers — even though she missed their St Patrick’s Day parade.

The regiment gave the Princess of Wales, who serves as its Colonel, a trio of “Hip, hip, hoorays” in a touching gesture yesterday.

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Standing to attention Seamus the Irish Wolfhound with Kate last yearCredit: Getty

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Sad Seamus looks lost without the Princess who serves as Colonel of the Irish GuardsCredit: PA

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Irish Guardsmen lift their headwear to give Kate three cheers during a St Patrick’s Day paradeCredit: PA
The Army explained: “In keeping with tradition, wherever they are in the world, the Irish Guards give a rousing three cheers for the Colonel of the Regiment, HRH the ­Princess of Wales.”

Meanwhile, Seamus the Irish Wolfhound — the regiment’s mascot — sat in sadness as Kate wasn’t there to hand out a traditional sprig of shamrock.

He led the march in Aldershot, Hants.

Last year, the hound stood to attention as the Princess inspected troops.

LISTEN TO THE KING’S FUNGI

VISITORS to King Charles’ Sandringham Estate this summer will be given special microphones so they can listen to the “voices” of mushrooms.

The King is opening the grounds to a series of Chorus of Life walks.

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Visitors to King Charles’ Sandringham Estate will be given special microphones so they can listen to the ‘voices’ of mushroomsCredit: The Mega Agency
The estate website says guests will use a “specialised parabolic microphone” to listen to birdsong and “the hidden sounds of plants, lichen and fungi”.

The technique involves converting electrical conductivity into audio.

Visitors will also be able to go Forest Bathing — a practice that originated in Japan and which connects people to nature through sensory-based activities.