Kensington Palace described her recent tummy tuck Kate Middleton as “programmed”, but even those closest to the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton had no idea about it.

According to People, “there was no sign that anything was wrong” with Kate, 42, before her hospitalization on January 16, with sources saying the news “came a surprise” to family friends as well as those who they “work closely” with the royals.

The princess was last seen in public on December 25, when she and her husband, Prince William, took their three children and visited a church for Christmas.

However, the magazine reported that the Princess of Wales still looked fine on January 9 when she celebrated her birthday privately with her family at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, England.

Just a week later, the Palace announced that the future queen had quietly undergone a “successful” operation and would remain in the London clinic for 10 to 14 days “before returning home to continue her recovery”.

Kensington Palace also shared that Middleton is “unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter,” but declined to divulge more information out of respect for her privacy.

“She’s in great hands and will have a lot of care and support at home,” a source close to the royal household told People, noting that the princess’ parents, Michael Middleton and Carole Middleton, “will be a reassuring presence when she returns to Windsor to recover”.