Rob Kardashian looks happy and healthy as reclusive former reality star makes a rare appearance at sister Khloe's birthday celebrations

Rob Kardashian is edging closer to the spotlight, making an appearance in sister Khloe's Instagram photo dump on Tuesday.

The reclusive star, 39,stepped back from his family's reality TV juggernaut in 2016, explaining how he refused to 'put myself out there if I'm not comfortable with myself.'

But in the new photos shared by his supportive sister Khloe, Rob looks happy and healthy as he celebrates his sibling's recent 42nd birthday.

Wearing basketball shorts and an LA Dodgers hat, Rob stands on the edge of group shots with his sisters Khloe, Kim and Kourtney and mom Kris Jenner, beaming for the camera .

Khloe marked her birthday with a 'Champagne, Cavalli and Caviar' dinner at home, with Rob also making an appearance in a pair of sweet snaps with his daughter Dream, nine.

Rob commented under Khloe's photo carousel, happily writing: 'We are so Blessed to have you! We love you so much!!!' alongside a string of heart emojis.

Fans were soon replying in their droves with compliments for the star with one writing: 'rob you look great! Love how happy you look'.

Rob returned to his family's Hulu show The Kardashians for a brief appearance in the season 7 premiere, which aired last year.  

The scenes showed Rob joining his sisters, Kris and stepfather Caitlin Jenner at the family's old home, which they call El Dorado Meadow, for a farewell dinner before Kris sold it.

It marked Rob's first time appearing on the Hulu reality series, which began in 2022, and his first time appearing on camera at all since 2016, when he and his then-fiancée Blac Chyna starred in a self-titled reality series.

Khloe showed her support for Rob in a confessional during the Kardashians episode but cautioned that her brother was still taking things at his own pace.  

'Yes, guys, you heard right. I know everyone is hoping that Rob comes back to the show, and trust me, we are too,' Khloe said.

'Rob is doing well, he's alive,' his sister continued. 'The conspiracies run wild. One of the main ones is that he lives with me. He's in our shadows and we don't wanna have him around us. He's not a miserable person who lives under a bridge… We're totally fine.'

Kim then added: 'I do miss having him on the show, 'cause he's just so funny. It would be great if he would regularly be back on. That's the goal.'

Fast forward to the final episode of season 7 and Khloe was seen speaking to her brother on the phone as she joked that people were 'fangirling' over his appearance in the show's trailer.

'They are swooning and freaking out,' she said to Rob, to which he replied, 'They are not fangirling.' 

Rob then told his sister: 'I would hope to be on season eight. I definitely want to film on season eight.'

During an appearance on Khloe's podcast last year, Rob explained his reasons for living his life away from public gaze, in stark contrast to the rest of his family.  

'I love filming if it's positive and if it's natural and I'm feeling good about myself,' he said. 'Then, of course, and I'm comfortable,' he said.

'I'm not gonna just put myself out there if I'm not comfortable with myself. I haven't been comfortable with myself in years,' Rob continued.

 'And I choose my own happiness and peace [over] just filming for somebody who doesn't do anything for me in my personal life.'