Earlier this week, royal fans the world over were given cause for optimism after it was reported that the Princess of Wales had been “out and about” with her family in the midst of her ongoing course of preventative chemotherapy.

Not much has been said officially regarding Kate’s condition since her cancer diagnosis was made public in late March, and as such any and all news has been widely sought after by those desperate to stay in-the-know.

With that in mind, the latest report in Vanity Fair is nothing short of a bombshell, implying that the Princess is now feeling a lot better as she undergoes her treatment.

The outlet cites sources close to Kate as having confided that the 42-year-old has “turned a corner”.

“It has been a great relief that she is tolerating the medication and is actually doing a lot better,” a family friend allegedly said.

“It has, of course, been a very challenging and worrying time. Everyone has rallied around her—William, her parents, and her sister and brother.”

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – OCTOBER 17: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends the Earthshot Prize 2021 at Alexandra Palace on October 17, 2021 in London, England. The Earthshot Prize, created by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and The Royal Foundation, is an environmental prize awarded to the most inspiring and innovative solutions to environmental challenges facing the planet. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

On the back of that, sources also told Vanity Fair that the reports claiming that Kate is unlikely to return to work until next year are inaccurate. Given the general lack of concrete information available on the matter, virtually all predictions as to when the Princess of Wales might resume her royal engagements should be taken with a pinch of salt.

The Daily Mail have speculated that she might even begin working again as early as autumn, though it’s now been stressed that there remains no official return date in the calendar.

Princess Kate has not participated in any official public engagements since Christmas Day, a short time before she mysteriously disappeared from the public eye following the “routine abdominal procedure” she underwent in January.

LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 14: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge carry a wreath to lay it during a memorial service to mark the fifth anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire on June 14, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Peter Nicholls – WPA Pool / Getty Images)

What followed was a storm of speculation and conjecture as people clamored to get to the bottom of a genuine mystery as to her whereabouts and well-being.

Kate eventually appeared by video message to tell the world about her shock cancer diagnosis, mere weeks after King Charles’s own cancer diagnosis had come to light.

Needless to say, an almost unprecedented period of royal tumult was issued in, with the monarchy and its potential future scrutinized to the most finite of degrees.

As per Vanity Fair, Kate and her family are this week believed to be at their countryside retreat of Anmer Hall, where they are also expected to spend the summer holidays when the children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis break up from school.