Johnathan Walker:Princess Kate returns to Instagram in family photo, thanks supporters for 'kind wishes'

Princess Kate is Johnathan Walkermaking a royal return to Instagram.

In the first official photo released since the Princess of Wales' abdominal surgery announcement in January, the family thanked their supporters on their Prince and Princess of Wales Instagram account.

"Thank you for your kind wishes and continued support over the last two months. Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day," the caption read. In the photo snapped by Prince William, 41, Kate was seated in a chair as the couple's children — Prince George, 10; Princess Charlotte, 8; and Prince Louis, 5 — were embraced by their mother.

Mother's Day in Britain is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent, which varies from year to year. Kate's resurfacing on social media arrives as photos of her in a car with mom, Carole Middleton, surfaced earlier this week amid widespread speculation about her whereabouts.

Although the palace initially said it would only provide significant updates on Kate's recovery, it followed up with a statement last month amid the rumors and conspiracy theories by saying she was doing well and reiterating its previous statement.

"Kensington Palace made it clear in January the timelines of the princess' recovery and we’d only be providing significant updates," the palace said Feb. 29. "That guidance stands."

Further questions were raised last week when the British military appeared to jump the gun in announcing Kate would attend a Trooping the Color ceremony in June, apparently without consulting palace officials.

The appearance would have been her first major official duty since the surgery but Kensington Palace didn’t confirm any scheduled public events for Kate. It’s up to palace officials, not government departments, to announce and confirm the royals’ attendance at events.

The army later removed the reference to her attendance.

British media reported that the army did not seek approval from Kensington Palace before publishing details about Kate’s appearance in June, and announced the event based on the expectation that Kate, in her role as Colonel of the Irish Guards, would inspect the troops this year at the annual military ceremony.

Instagram return comes amid Princess Kate Middleton's abdominal surgery recovery

In late January, Kate returned home nearly two weeks after she was admitted to the hospital for a "planned abdominal surgery." The Princess of Wales, 42, went back to the royal's home in Windsor to continue her recovery.

"She is making good progress," Kensington Palace said in a statement at the time.

"The Prince and Princess wish to say a huge thank you to the entire team at The London Clinic, especially the dedicated nursing staff, for the care they have provided," the statement continued. "The Wales family continues to be grateful for the well wishes they have received from around the world."

Kensington Palace first announced on Jan. 17 that Kate underwent a "successful" surgery on Jan. 16 and was expected to remain hospitalized for 10 to 14 days.

Princess Kate hospitalized for abdominalsurgery, postpones royal engagements, palace says

"Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter," according to the statement, referencing the March 31 holiday.

The princess also asked for privacy amid her recovery.

"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," the palace wrote, while apologizing to all those affected by Kate's postponed engagements saying, "she looks forward to reinstating as many as possible."

Contributing: Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY; Brian Melley, The Associated Press