Kate out in public, Charles is alive

The Princess of Wales stepped out in public for the first time since her Photoshop scandal, as the model at the centre of Prince William affair allegations issued a firm denial.

In a day of high drama, the palace was also forced to quash false reports in Russian media of King Charles’ death.

Footage emerged of Princess Catherine carting her own shopping bags as she walked briskly through the carpark of a farm shop near her home in Windsor on Saturday.

Dressed in a hooded top and black gym leggings, she smiled and laughed as she chatted with Prince William.

Kate remains off duty as she recovers from abdominal surgery and is not expected to return to work until after the school holidays at Easter.

She has been out of the public eye since undergoing surgery at the London Clinic eight weeks ago, triggering an avalanche of speculation and scrutiny over her health.

Royal expert Robert Jobson said the video should put paid to conspiracy theories. “I am glad to see this video released, I’m sure it will put some of the doubters back in their box, but not all of them,” he said.

“She’s smiling, she looks fit and in good health.”

Kate issued a rare personal apology after a family photograph she released to mark Mother’s Day was later found to be edited.

Rumours of an alleged affair involving William and Lady Rose Hanbury have also been swirling.

On Tuesday, Lady Rose broke her silence, issuing a statement through her lawyers, which said suggestions she was involved with the future king “are completely false”, according to Business Insider.

Lady Rose’s comments came after Russian newswire Sputnik falsely reported the monarch’s death as an image of a fake statement, which was erroneously attributed to Buckingham Palace, did the rounds on social media.

The British Embassy in Kyiv put paid to the hoax by stating: “We would like to inform you that the news about the death of King Charles III is fake.”