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Speculation about the Princess of Wales’s health has circulated online since Prince William pulled out of his godfather’s memorial due to a “personal matter”.

Kate was admitted to hospital for “planned abdominal surgery” exactly a week after her 42nd birthday in January.

Kensington Palace later confirmed the surgery was successful and she would be taking time to recover at home in Windsor.

But amid concerns for her father-in-law’s health following his cancer diagnosis, and the lack of explanation when William said he would not attend the memorial, speculation about the Princess of Wales’s health has been widespread.

When did she have surgery?

The princess was admitted to the London Clinic, a private hospital in Marylebone, on 16 January.

The following day, Kensington Palace confirmed the procedure was successful, estimating she would remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days.

On 29 January it was announced she was discharged and went home to Windsor.

Pic: AP
Journalists wait outside the London Clinic in central London where Britain's King Charles III is being treated for an enlarged prostate in London, Monday, Jan. 29, 2024.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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Journalists outside the London Clinic. Pic: AP

At the time, Sky News understood that her recuperation would likely take between two and three months.

A palace statement said: “Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.

“The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. 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.

“Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness’ progress when there is significant new information to share.”

Conspiracy theories surrounding Kate won’t force William to change his position on privacy

For a woman we haven’t actually seen since Christmas, an awful lot has been written about the Princess of Wales this week.

In fact, you could say the questions and conspiracy theories about Kate and her health have got out of control.

I was told this week that it’s too early to say exactly when we’re going to see her again.

So should we read anything into that? I’m told a firm ‘no’.

Read more analysis

William’s ‘personal matter’

Prince William was due to attend a memorial for his godfather, the late King Constantine of Greece, at Windsor Castle on 27 February.

The King did not attend due to his ongoing treatment, but William was expected with other members of the family until an hour beforehand.

The palace issued a statement to say the prince would not attend due to a “personal matter” – but did not elaborate.

Prince William with members of the Jewish community in London on 29 February. Pic: PA
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Prince William visiting members of the Jewish community in London on 29 February. Pic: PA

Anticipating speculation, it did add that Kate is “recovering and continues to be doing well”.

According to Sky royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills, the prince’s “decision and lack of explanation for it has exposed how high-risk their strategy of keeping quiet is” – and has resulted in a “vacuum of information… rumour and speculation”.

“The voracious appetite for news about the princess hasn’t been helped by the perception that the King is being much more open about his cancer diagnosis,” Mills said.

Pic: Andrew Matthews/PA 
Prince Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece, Prince of Denmark RE, and Marie-Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece, Princess of Denmark (both front) and Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark (fifth right) attend a thanksgiving service for the life of King Constantine of the Hellenes at St George's Chapel, in Windsor Castle, Berkshire. Picture date: Tuesday February 27, 2024. PA Photo. Constantine II, who died on January 10, 2023 was the last King of Greece, reigning from 1964 to
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Members of the Greek and Danish royal family in Windsor for the memorial for the late King Constantine. Pic: PA

Royal experts have said comparisons between the King and the Princess of Wales are unfair – as the former is the reigning monarch with far greater responsibilities and public interest.

But it has not stopped conspiracy theorists speculating about alternative scenarios to the one stated by the palace.

(left to right) The Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, the Prince of Wales, Prince Louis and Mia Tindall  attending the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk. Picture date: Monday December 25, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story ROYAL Sandringham. Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire
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The Wales’s at Sandringham on Christmas Day. Pic: PA

Read more:
Prince William to carry out engagements this week

When might we see her again?

Kate has not been seen in public since the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham.

Kensington Palace said the princess would not be returning to public duties before Easter Sunday, which this year falls on 31 March.

In recent years, William and Kate have attended church services on Easter Sunday in Windsor with their children.

Regardless, all eyes will still be on William, who is due to attend Commonwealth Day celebrations on 11 March.

The original indication of two to three months’ recovery, would mean a return somewhere between 16 March and 16 April.

Separately, Queen Camilla is taking the week off royal duties ahead of Commonwealth Day as she had no planned commitments.

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Davina McCall says she has short-term memory problems after brain tumour surgery

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Davina McCall says she has short-term memory problems after brain tumour surgery

Davina McCall has said her short-term memory is “a bit remiss” as she recovers from brain tumour surgery.

Speaking from her bed, the visibly emotional TV presenter posted a short video updating her Instagram followers on her condition, saying it had been a “mad” time.

She expressed an “enormous heartfelt thank you” to people who had messaged her after she revealed this month she had a benign brain tumour, a colloid cyst, which she described as “very rare”.

Looking bright, but with a visibly bruised left eye, McCall said: “My short-term memory is a bit remiss.

“But that is something I can work on, so I’m really happy about that. I’m writing everything down, to keep myself feeling safe.”

She added: “It’s been mad, and it’s just really nice to be back home, I’m on the other side.”

In a message posted with the video, she reiterated her thanks for all the support she has received, adding: “Had a great night’s sleep in my own bed. Have a couple of sleeps during the day which keeps my brain clear… Slowly, slowly…”

When she first shared her diagnosis, she said chances of having it were “three in a million” and that she had discovered it several months previously after a company offered her a health scan in return for giving a menopause talk.

The 57-year-old star said support from her fans had “meant the world”.

She said she was being “brilliantly looked after” by her partner, hairdresser Michael Douglas, and her stepmother, Gabby, who she calls mum.

Becoming tearful, the presenter said: “I’d quickly like to say big up the stepmums. I don’t really say thank you to Gabby enough. She’s been an amazing rock my whole life.”

McCall was estranged from her birth mother, Florence McCall, who died in 2008.

Kate coming out of the Big Brother house in 2002
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McCall with 2002 Big Brother winner Kate Lawler. Pic: Rex Features

With a catch in her voice, McCall went on: “I’ve got a massive dose of vitamin G – I’m just really grateful. I’ve always been really lucky in my life, but I feel unbelievably grateful right now. So, thanks for everything, all of you.

“I’m on the mend, I’m resting and sleeping loads and I feel really good. I’m just very lucky.”

Stars including presenter Alison Hammond, singer Craig David and radio host Zoe Ball quickly shared their delight at the positive update.

McCall rose to fame presenting on MTV in the mid-1990s, and later on Channel 4’s Streetmate, before becoming a household name as the host of Big Brother from 2000 to 2010.

Davina McCall  with her partner Michael Douglas and her daughter Holly Robertson after being made a Member of the Order of the British Empire
Pic: PA
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McCall with her MBE, alongside her partner Michael Douglas and her daughter Holly Robertson. Pic: PA

She’s gone on to present programmes across the networks, the most recent being ITV dating show My Mum, Your Dad.

Last year, McCall was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to broadcasting.

Married twice, McCall has three children, two daughters and a son, with her second husband, presenter Matthew Robertson.

She has lived with Douglas since 2022, and they present a weekly lifestyle podcast together, Making The Cut.

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UK weather: How long will rainy and windy conditions last – and is another storm already on the way?

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UK weather: How long will rainy and windy conditions last - and is another storm already on the way?

Storm Bert continues to cause chaos in the UK, but just how long is heavy rain and wind expected to batter the country?

The Met Office says Storm Bert will start to “slowly pull away” from the UK on Monday, meaning an unsettled start to the day.

A yellow weather warning remains in place for northern parts of Scotland.

It warns of heavy downpours, especially over higher ground, where accumulations of 50-70mm are expected. The warning is in place until midnight.

Storm Bert latest: Follow live updates

In central Scotland, wind speeds of 50-60mph are likely, and gusts up to 70mph could be felt near the coast and on exposed bridges.

Met Office chief meteorologist Andy Page said that while the risk of snowfall had now diminished, rainfall would “affect much of the UK”.

Frequent showers are expected in Northern Ireland, northern England, Wales and the West Country, with the heaviest expected in southwestern parts of England and South Wales.

Mr Page said weather warnings “could still be amended” and possibly at short notice, and urged people to “keep up to date with the very latest forecast”.

Sky News meteorologist Christopher England warns there could be a risk of hail and thunder in northern Scotland, at the start of the week.

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Storm Bert causes flooding in Wales

As of Monday morning, there were hundreds of flood warnings and alerts in place. Three of those – two in Wales and one in England – were “severe warnings”.

A further 160 flood warnings and more than 200 flood alerts were issued by the Environment Agency in England, and eight flood warnings and 23 flood alerts in place in Wales at the time of writing.

Bert to clear UK by Tuesday

By Tuesday, Storm Bert will finally clear the UK, the Met Office said, bringing with it “quieter weather for many”.

However, parts of the country may not be without rain or wind for long, as the forecaster says strong gusts and rainfall could start again on Tuesday night and into Wednesday.

Check the forecast in your area

“How long the more settled conditions last is uncertain, with rain probably returning to westernmost areas at least by the end of the week,” the Met Office website says.

Chris England adds: “Wednesday will bring strong winds and a spell of heavy rain across the south, while the north looks mostly fine after a frosty and foggy start in places.

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Woman loses umbrella to Storm Bert

“Thursday looks cool again, but mostly fine. Friday will be milder, with outbreaks of rain likely over Ireland, Northern Ireland and north-west Scotland.”

He says going into the weekend, Saturday “looks cloudy and breezy in the north and west, with a little rain possible at times”.

When could the next named storm be?

Storm Bert was the second named storm of the season after Storm Ashley brought similar wet and windy conditions towards the end of October.

Although it cannot be known for sure when the next storm will be, the Met Office already knows it will be referred to as Storm Conall. The forecaster names storms in alphabetical order.

It says it only names a storm when it has the “potential to cause disruption or damage which could result in an amber or red warning” and according to its long range forecast, this could be as soon as next month.

It says that between 9 and 23 December, “there are signs” there will be wetter and windier interludes with a risk of snow, adding: “These conditions look more likely to dominate towards the middle of December.”

Whether this will be strong enough for a storm to be named remains unknown.

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Microsoft ‘investigating issue’ after users report problems with Outlook and Teams

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Microsoft 'investigating issue' after users report problems with Outlook and Teams

Microsoft has said it is “investigating an issue” after users reported problems with Outlook and Teams.

In a post on X, Microsoft 365 Status said: “We’re investigating an issue impacting users attempting to access Exchange Online or functionality within Microsoft Teams calendar.”

Microsoft Exchange Online is a platform for business communication that has a mail server and cloud apps for email, contacts, and calendars.

Down Detector, a website that tracks outages, said problems started at approximately 8am on Monday morning.

It said 87% of reported problems involved Outlook, when the email application is accessed through the web.

Microsoft error message
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Microsoft error message appearing on Outlook

Other reported problems, according to Down Detector, included connection to the server and logging in.

Users from the UK and around, Europe took to social media to report they were having problems accessing the platform.

One user wrote: “When you need to check an important mail, but #outlook decides to not work…”

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While another added: “Here in Belgium mainly issues with tracking of e-mail in Dynamics 365. Inbound and outbound in Outlook still work.”

Microsoft directed affected users to its admin centre, a page that is intended for those who have access to business networks and other professionals who manage IT networks. The page requires a login.

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