Hospital surgery for King and Princess
Dual alert as palaces announce prostate treatment and abdominal operation
‘Based on medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter’
BUCKINGHAM Palace announced that the King required treatment for an enlarged prostate, just 90 minutes after Kensington Palace revealed that the Princess of Wales had undergone abdominal surgery.
The King, 75, who is in Scotland, will be admitted to hospital for a “corrective procedure” next week.
The Princess, 42, was admitted to the private London Clinic on Tuesday, where she underwent planned abdominal surgery that has forced her to cancel all engagements until Easter.
The King cancelled his own upcoming engagements after suffering with symptoms connected to the benign condition but was “very keen” that the details of his diagnosis were revealed in order to encourage others in his position to get themselves checked, it is understood.
The timing of the announcements is understood to have been a coincidence but concerns have been raised about the challenge posed to the Royal family of being without a number of its most senior members at the same time.
At 2pm yesterday Kensington Palace released a statement announcing that the Princess was in hospital, where she will remain for up to two weeks. Royal sources said the Prince of Wales was committed to caring for her, as well as their three children, and as such had also cancelled a number of engagements. He will not undertake any public duties while the Princess is in hospital or during the immediate period following her return home.
Two short overseas tours planned for the coming weeks for both the Prince and Princess, including one to Rome, have been postponed.
The statement said: “Her Royal Higness, the Princess of Wales was admitted to The London Clinic yesterday for planned abdominal surgery. The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days, before returning home to continue her recovery.
“Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.”
It added: “The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. 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.
“Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness’ progress when there is significant new information to share. The Princess of Wales wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements. She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible.”
The Princess was not rushed to hospital and royal sources insisted that her admission was not the result of a sudden development within the last few days. They confirmed that her condition was not cancer-related. However, as recently as the end of last week, aides were planning engagements and appeared to expect the forthcoming tours to go ahead.
Shortly after the Kensington Palace announcement, came a second, this time from Buckingham Palace, revealing the King had an enlarged prostate.
His Majesty had received the diagnosis just hours earlier, having undergone a check up earlier this week which was booked after he experienced symptoms connected to the condition, it is understood.
The statement said: “In common with thousands of men each year, the King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate.
“His Majesty’s condition is benign and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure. The King’s
public engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation.” The palace declined to say whether he would be treated in Scotland or return to London. He is expected to remain in hospital overnight.
The prospect of the King being in hospital while Prince William simultaneously pauses official duties to care for his wife raised concerns that Counsellors of State might be required to step in.
Buckingham Palace insisted the move would not be necessary as the King will be conscious throughout and fully capable of discharging his duties as normal. Sources said he would be back in action after what is likely to be a relatively short recuperation period.
The dual hospital admissions mean few senior royals will be out and about in the coming weeks, with the Queen, the Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh facing the prospect of an enhanced workload. The Queen, 76, is to visit Swindon on Monday.
Kensington Palace declined to provide further information about the Princess’s condition but did not rule out her choosing to speak publicly about it herself in the future. Palace sources said she was “doing well” yesterday evening.