Official updates as to the condition of Kate Middleton as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy to combat her cancer are exceedingly rare, so at this point it’s safe to assume royal enthusiasts the world over will take pretty much anything they can get.

The Princess of Wales, you will surely remember, bravely released a video back in March wherein she disclosed her heartbreaking diagnosis, following long weeks of speculation as to her whereabouts and well being.

Since then, Kate has largely been laying low, keeping herself clear of the spotlight as she recovers and recuperates at home in Windsor. It’s been widely reported that Prince William has drastically altered his schedule to better support his wife and children, but in terms of concrete updates, the general public have been left with fairly slim pickings.

Perhaps that’s why word of a decision William made this week has been looked upon with such intrigue.

According to Hello!, Kensington Palace has confirmed that William is set to engage in two public engagements that will see him leave Windsor – and therefore his family – for an overnight stay somewhere else later this week.

While on the face of it a grown man spending the night away from home to fullfil work commitments doesn’t seem all that out of the ordinary, this is the Royal Family we are talking about here, and so any decision made is fair game to be scrutinized under a microscope.

If we’re to believe varying sources, that William is prepared to leave his wife alone with the children for a night is a sign that Kate Middleton’s recovery is going well.

William will pay a visit to Cornwall on Thursday, before venturing on to the Isles of Scilly on Friday. The Prince of Wales recently resumed engagements following a pause in his calendar to spend more time with his family in wake of Kate’s diagnosis.

According to The Times, Prince William plans to “increase his diary of public engagements over the next two months”, prior to his children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis breaking up from school for the summer holidays in July and August.

As we said at the beginning of the article, updates regarding Kate’s fight with cancer firmly fall into the category of slim pickings, but the idea that William will be leaving her alone for a night could – and certainly is – being taken as a positive indication.

That might be enough to quell the concerns of fans left worried earlier this week after a friend and confidant of William and Kate said that the couple were “going through hell”.

Speaking to the Telegraph, clothing designer Amaia Arrieta, who has styled Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis in the past, painted a rather bleak picture.

“I’m heartbroken at the moment, I think they are going through hell, I hope they will be back. It’s really personal,” Arrieta said.

Last week, meanwhile, Prince William offered a rare update on his wife, insisting that she and the rest of the family were doing okay.

During a public appearance, William was asked by a member of the public: “Do you mind if I ask how your wife and children are?”

“We’re all doing well, thank you,” William responded.

“And obviously Catherine?” pressed the woman.

“We’re all doing well,” said William.