Princess Kate, also known as the Princess of Wales, has undergone planned abdominal surgery and is currently hospitalized, Kensington Palace announced on Wednesday. The surgery, which took place on Tuesday, was deemed successful, and Princess Kate is anticipated to spend the next 10 to 14 days in the hospital before returning home for recovery. However, based on medical advice, she is not expected to resume public duties until after Easter.
The palace issued a statement requesting privacy for the Princess during her recovery and emphasized her desire to maintain normalcy for her children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The statement also stressed Princess Kate’s wish to keep her personal medical information private.
The postponement of Princess Kate’s engagements was acknowledged by the palace, and an apology was extended to those affected. The statement expressed Kate’s anticipation of reinstating as many engagements as possible once she has fully recovered.
In a separate medical announcement, Buckingham Palace revealed that King Charles III, aged 75, will undergo treatment for an enlarged prostate. The statement clarified that the condition is benign, and the King will attend the hospital for a corrective procedure. Similar to Princess Kate, King Charles III will temporarily postpone public engagements to facilitate a period of rest during his recovery.
Princess Kate and the British royals are known for their active schedule of public engagements, which include charitable work and family outings. The announcement of Kate’s surgery and subsequent recovery period has prompted the postponement of her royal duties for approximately two months. Typically, the royal family engages in various public activities, and their yearly Easter church service at St. George’s Chapel is among the anticipated events.
Princess Kate’s most recent public appearance was in December for the Christmas church service at St Mary Magdalene Church. On Christmas Eve, a televised Christmas carol service titled “Together at Christmas” aired in support of Kate’s charity, The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.
While Kate celebrated her 42nd birthday earlier this month, there were no public engagements to mark the occasion. King Charles III and Queen Camilla acknowledged her birthday through a social media message and shared a photo of Kate from the coronation last year.
Westminster Abbey also celebrated Kate’s birthday with a special bell-ringing ceremony on Tuesday. The official Westminster Abbey account on social media mentioned that bell ringers were performing a specific sequence in honor of Princess Kate’s birthday.
As Princess Kate and King Charles III navigate their respective health journeys, the royal family and the public await their return to full engagement in the near future. The temporary pause in public duties underscores the importance of prioritizing health and well-being within the royal family, emphasizing that even members of the monarchy face health-related challenges that require appropriate care and attention.