The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, is not expected to appear in public for the rest of the year as she continues her course of preventive chemotherapy following her cancer diagnosis earlier this year, according to royal sources and friends of the princess and her husband, Prince William. The Duchess is reportedly being "surrounded" by her birth family during this challenging time, as she focuses on her recovery and avoids any kind of stress or anxiety.

Sources close to the royal couple have indicated that Kate's diary for the year is empty, with no planned public appearances. A friend of Kate and William told The Daily Beast, "The key thing for her now is avoiding any kind of stress or anxiety and just getting on with the business of getting better. They will bail out and be off to Sandringham the moment school breaks up."

The couple is expected to spend the upcoming school holiday, which falls next week, at their country home on the Sandringham Estate, where Kate's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, are thought likely to visit. The friend also revealed that Kate has been relying on her tight-knit family, including her sister Pippa and brother James, for support during this difficult period.

Prince William is anticipated to devote even more time to his family over the next six weeks, having been unexpectedly gifted time off after the royal family announced they would be stepping back from some engagements to avoid distracting from the snap U.K. general election called for July 4.

The Daily Mail's Richard Eden reported that Kate's friends have suggested "we might not see Catherine again until the autumn—and only then if she has recovered fully." This sentiment was echoed by a source who told The Daily Beast, "I would not rule out another video message updating the country on her health. That proved to be a very effective way of keeping the conspiracy theorists at bay."

Kate revealed her cancer diagnosis in a video message released on March 22, explaining that she had initially thought her condition was non-cancerous but discovered the truth after successful abdominal surgery in January and subsequent tests. She shared that she was in the early stages of preventive chemotherapy, which began in late February, and had taken time to explain her condition to her three children.

Fellow parents at the private school attended by Kate's children have noted that while she has not been seen at the usual sports matches and school events, there are rumors that she has occasionally done school runs while keeping a low profile. One parent expressed the protective sentiment felt by the school community, stating, "Ask anyone at the school—they are amazing parents."

Kensington Palace declined to comment on when Kate would next be seen in public or if she was working from home, but a courtier emphasized, "The Princess is continuing her recovery at home. She continues to need the space and time to prioritize her privacy, as she said in her video."