Kate Middleton is “out and about” and it is a “sure sign” she will be back to public life and into the Royal Family fold in “no time”, according to a royal expert.

Kate said she was not returning to the public eye for the foreseeable amid her ongoing battle with cancer.

But she has been seen in public for the first time since mid-March after attending a farm shop alongside husband Prince William and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, aged 10, nine and six respectively.

Royal biographer Richard Fitzwilliams has said that these reports show Kate is taking “positive” step in the right direction.

Mr Fitzwilliams said: ” I think everyone is obviously hoping that it won’t be too long before she will be undertaking world engagements.

“But before that happens I would suspect that she would probably be seen, and the fact that we know she’s been seen out and about is is obviously positive. I mean, it’s it’s very difficult at a time like this, because, as we know, she has major abdominal surgery and is is undergoing preventative chemotherapy.”

“But this is an indication which is favourable and I just hope that things move in the right direction,” he added. He continued: “I think that very clearly the indication of this particular release of information appears to be positive. But what we’re not expecting is, you know, any royal engagements, or anything like that in the foreseeable future.

“Obviously this is something that is substantial and has to be dealt with in a manner that obviously is is approved by her doctors. We never know with illness how it develops, and also one of the problems is it’s very difficult, especially for royal planners.

“The diaries are filled quite a period, a long period in advance. So how do you know exactly how well somebody’s going to be at that time, I mean, the answer is that you don’t.”