Princess of Wales hospitalized after abdominal surgery, King to be treated for enlarged prostate
Kensington Palace said Catherine's surgery was planned
Catherine, Princess of Wales, has undergone successful planned abdominal surgery and will be in hospital for up to two weeks, while King Charles will go to hospital next week for treatment of an enlarged prostate, royal officials said on Wednesday.
Catherine, 42, the wife of heir to the throne Prince William, was admitted to the London Clinic on Tuesday and was expected to remain there for 10 to 14 days of treatment before returning home to recover, her Kensington Palace office said.
No details of the surgery were given, but a spokesman said the condition was non-cancerous.
"The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate," the statement said. "She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private."
Less than two hours later, Buckingham Palace revealed that Charles, 75, would also attend hospital next week for a "corrective procedure" for a benign condition.
"In common with thousands of men each year, the king has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate," the palace said in a statement.
The two royals have appeared to be in good health. They were last seen in public on Christmas Day when the Royal Family attended a church service near King Charles's Sandringham home in eastern England.
Catherine is unlikely to return to public duties until Easter, said Kensington Palace. It added that updates would be provided only when there was "significant new information to share."
William, 41, will also postpone several engagements while his wife is recovering.
Born Catherine Middleton, the eldest of three children of middle-class, self-made entrepreneurs, she became the Princess of Wales after the death of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022, when William was given the title of Prince of Wales, which his father, Charles, had held for more than six decades.
Polls show that since her marriage to William in 2011, she has become one of the most popular members of the Royal Family and the epitome of the modern face of the monarchy. She is also considered a global fashion icon who regularly graces the front pages of glossy magazines.
Catherine and William have three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. She spent four days in hospital in 2012 suffering from severe morning sickness while pregnant with George.
While few details of Catherine's condition were made public — as is usual among royals who regard medical issues as a private matter — Charles was keen to share information to encourage other men experiencing symptoms to get checked.
Britain's National Health Service (NHS) website described a benign enlarged prostate as a condition that can affect urination. It is common common in people over 50.
"It's not a cancer and it's not usually a serious threat to health," the NHS says on its website. "Many men worry that having an enlarged prostate means they have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. This is not the case."
