Questions over the Princess of Wales's return to royal duties has been shut down by a five-worded remark from a royal insider.

Since the start of the year, Princess Kate has only made two public appearances - including one with her young family at this year's Trooping the Colour back in June. Her most recent appearance was at the men's final at Wimbledon with Princess Charlotte in July.

The 42-year-old has, apart from these two appearances, not been seen publicly - meaning that she has taken a step back from royal duties whilst continuing to undergo cancer treatment.

Discussing the possibility of Kate's return with the Daily Mail, an insider stated: "We are not there yet."

The source added: "When we last heard from her ahead of Trooping the Colour, she said her treatment was going on into the summer and that’s what’s happening.

"It’s been a rough, rough time, a really difficult year for the entire family. And as she herself said, she is not out of the woods yet.

"The direction is positive [but] there will not be great change [in terms of her public profile] after Sunday night and no one is giving a timescale for her return."

Prior to her appearance back in June, a senior royal said a few weeks prior that Kate "will return to work when she has had the green light from doctors" - but didn’t provide any specific timeline for her return to royal duties.

Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar back in March, a source said: "She is in good spirits and is focused on making a full recovery."

During her official announcement confirming her cancer diagnosis, Kate shared how it had affected her children - George, 11, Charlotte, nine, and Louis, six.

She said: "This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment.

"But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok. As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits."

At the time, aides stressed that her appearance at Trooping the Colour did not indicate a return to royal duties.

Kensington Palace has been approached for comment.