Princess of Wales seems 'relaxed, happy, playful and energetic' in first picture since her surgery, body language expert says

The Princess of Wales appeared 'playful' and 'protective' of her children in the first picture released since her surgery, a body language expert has claimed.

Speaking exclusively to FEMAIL, Judi James said that Kate Middleton, 42, looked 'authentic' while her clothes showed a 'relaxed happiness'.

The photos appear to show that the Princess is recovering well after undergoing surgery in January. 

Kensington Palace released the first official photo of the Princess of Wales since her surgery as she thanked the public for their support in a Mother's Day message on Sunday morning. 

The royal is seen beaming with her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in a picture taken by her husband, Prince William, at their home in Windsor.

Kensington Palace has released the first picture of Kate since her surgery as the Princess of Wales thanked the public for their support in a Mother's Day message while she continues to recuperate

'Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day,' the Princess of Wales said, signing off the message with a 'C' for Catherine. 

The mother-of-three has stepped back from royal duties since she was admitted to The London Clinic for 'planned abdominal surgery' on January 16.

Speaking today, Judi said the picture shows how the royal is one the mend. 

'There are so many reassuring non-verbal messages of continuity, relaxed happiness and even increasingly-restored good health here, as well as some even more telling ones of shared emotion,' Judi said.

'The pose itself, the styling and the colours chosen, look deliberately traditional and even signature for the family. 

'This is the type of photograph the Wales's have posed for before, with heather-mix blues, greens and purple Fairisle knits and checks seeming to announce very little has changed and order and continuity has thankfully been restored,' she added.

Opting for £250 Chloe Combat boots, which she's worn several times before, Kate looked natural in jeans, a black polo neck and bottle green jacket.

Meanwhile, both Prince George and Princess Charlotte wore jumpers from French brand Cyrillus official.

Charlotte wore and adorable red Cotton and Cashmere Cardigan with a checked skirt and cotton tights while George wore a Lambswool Jumper in Kaki and jeans.

William has been stepping up royal engagements in Kate's absence. Pictured: Prince William and Princess Kate are seen at a  ceremonial welcome for The President and the First Lady of the Republic of Korea at Horse Guards Parade on November 21 last year.

The Princess of Wales has not been seen since she attended the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham 

Kate went entirely without jewellery in the photo, in an unusual move for the royal, but Judi suggested that this could hint at her getting better.    

'Kate's choice of casual clothing seems to hint at restored levels of health. Her lace-up boots, jeans and zip-up jacket all imply she's off for a long Mother's Day walk after the session. 

'Even the way she crosses her legs at the ankle suggests energy rather than a desire to sit still,' she added.

Wearing her hair long and loose, Kate beamed as she sat with her three children at home in Windsor.

She opted for a natural make-up look with a creamy foundation and subtle lip gloss.

'In terms of the body language it's a relief for the fans (and the country) to see the joy and the sense of playful family fun are still firmly in place,' Judi added.

'Kate might be sitting but she's the one with her protective arms around her two younger children and Kate's smile is far more telling than her normal signature, pitch-perfect '"royal" smile. 

'This is an authentic, dimpled version with no signs of forcing or rigidity.

'Her sparkling eye expression, which is aimed at her husband William behind the camera, suggests their usual levels of shared humour are still very much a thing.

'George has his arms looped around his mother's neck as though keen to protect her but this is also a pose he's used frequently on his father and the children look relaxed enough to imply nobody is feeling any wariness or need to treat Kate as overly-fragile. 

'Their open-mouthed laughs look congruent enough to imply genuine playfulness that appears prompted by William from behind the lens,'.

The princess' absence from royal engagements since the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham has led to huge speculation on social media - but the positive Mother's Day update has been warmly welcomed by royal fans.

Buckingham Palace also shared a photo of the King with his late mother Queen Elizabeth II to mark Mother's Day. Charles is seen kissing his mother's hand after a polo match in 1985.

'Wishing all Mothers, and those who are missing their Mums today, a peaceful Mothering Sunday,' a message alongside the photo said. 

Kensington Palace confirmed Kate's surgery was successful and on January 29, she returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to be reunited with her children almost two weeks after having the surgery.

Last Monday, she was photographed for the first time since the medical procedure after US gossip website TMZ published pictures of her being driven around Windsor with her mother, Carole Middleton.

In the photo, Kate was wearing dark sunglasses and sat in the passenger seat of a black 4x4 Audi. 

The pictures were not published in the UK after Kensington Palace appealed for her to be able to recuperate in private. 

Days later, Carole's brother - and Kate's uncle - Gary Goldsmith revealed on Celebrity Big Brother that her niece was getting the 'best care in the world'.

Love Island winner Ekin-Su Culculoglu asked Goldsmith on Wednesday's episode: 'Where's Kate?'

He replied: 'Because she doesn't want to talk about... The last thing I'm going to do is... there's a kind of code of etiquette. If it's announced, I'll give you an opinion.' 

Kate's 'black sheep' uncle added: 'I spoke to her mum, my sister, she's getting the best care in the world.

'And all the family's done is put the wagons round and look after family first before anything else. They put a statement out and just said 'she's taking some time to recoup and will see you in Easter'.'

After Kate was photographed in paparazzi pictured on Monday, the Ministry of Defence was then forced to delete a claim on its website that the Princess of Wales would be attending the Trooping the Colour. 

Tickets had gone on sale via the army website advertising Kate reviewing a 'practice' parade for the first time on June 8 in her role as honorary colonel of the Irish Guards.

King Charles also shared a touching tribute to his 'darling Mama' on Mother's Day and wrote: 'Wishing all Mothers, and those who are missing their Mums today, a peaceful Mothering Sunday'

Princess Kate attended the service with Prince William and their children George, Charlotte and Louis

Kate left hospital on January 29 and returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to be reunited with her children almost two weeks after having the surgery. Pictured: Kate and William in September 2022 

Officials have said  that the Princess of Wales (pictured on December 5) continues to do 'well'. Kate plans to return to royal engagements after Easter

It also announced that King Charles, 75, would be reviewing his own official birthday parade on June 15 at Horse Guards.

But within minutes of the tickets going on sale, there were warnings that the MoD may have 'jumped the gun'.

Kensington Palace sources made clear that they were 'not consulted' on the MoD announcement and said that any confirmed attendance by the princess would be made 'only' by themselves.

Buckingham Palace confirmed that planning for future engagements was continuing despite the King's ongoing cancer treatment yet stressed that changes could be made nearer the time depending on his health.

He is undertaking a very limited number of in-person engagements and certainly not anything with large crowds, on doctors' advice.

The confusion has added to the sense of unease around the Royal Family, given that two of its most senior members are largely out of action for substantial periods.

Insiders have said, given the profile of the occasions, that it is likely that both the monarch and his daughter-in-law would do everything within their power to attend.

On Friday, the Prince of Wales visited the Oval cricket ground as he continues to carry out engagements while his wife and his father recover.

But his absence from his godfather's memorial at Windsor Castle last month for a 'personal matter'  led to increased speculation about his wife's health.

The Palace has said that based on the current medical advice Kate was unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.

A spokesman stated that it was Kate's personal wish to keep her personal medical information private and said it would only provide an update if there were 'significant new information to share'.

William has been juggling royal duties with supporting Kate and helping care for George, Charlotte, and Louis.

Prince William laughs as he speaks to Surrey County Cricket Club players at the Oval on Friday

Prince William is presented with a Surrey County Cricket Club shirt at the Oval 

Prince William speaks to Pierre-Yves Paslierco, founder of Earthshot Prize winner Natpla, as he holds holds a sustainable seaweed-based food plate at the Oval cricket ground on Friday

Queen Camilla has led the royals at other events amid a slimmed-down monarchy - with Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Sophie also helping out. 

Tomorrow, William will attend an event at immersive art venue Frameless in the Marble Arch area of London's West End, celebrating The Earthshot Prize 'Launchpad' project. 

This is a new online matchmaking platform for Earthshot projects which can be accessed by investors and philanthropists looking to co-invest and collaborate on environmental ideas.

Kensington Palace said that since 2021, the Earthshot Prize has awarded £15million of prize money and the network has helped unlock £50million of support via its network, for the 45 winners and finalists.

Also on Monday, Camilla and William are to attend the annual Commonwealth Day service, joined by remaining members of the slimmed-down monarchy.

With the King and Kate away from public-facing duties, the rest of the institution's working royals will gather in force at Westminster Abbey.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams was joined by royal fans in showing their delight at seeing the Mother's Day photo of Kate

Camilla and William will be accompanied by Edward, Sophie and Anne along with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent.

A pre-recorded video message from Head of the Commonwealth, Charles, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, will be played during the service this year, Buckingham Palace said.

The annual celebration will draw on the theme of resilience - at a time when the royal family has faced a barrage of health troubles.

But the service will focus on stories of environmental resilience and marine sustainability, through performances representing the five regions of the Commonwealth.

William's appearance at the televised event - a key part of the royal calendar - alongside Camilla comes after he pulled out of attending his godfather King Constantine of Greece's memorial service last week at the last minute due to an undisclosed personal matter.