Duchess Kate was admitted to hospital on Tuesday for a planned abdominal operation, which is now understood to be a potentially serious operation with recovery likely to take several months.
Britain's future queen, Duchess Kate, is “doing well” after abdominal surgery this week, a royal source quoted by Reuters said on Thursday. Kensington Palace said Duchess Kate underwent an unspecified non-cancer operation and is expected to recover in hospital for up to two weeks, followed by further rest at her home.
The 42-year-old princess, who married Prince William of Wales and heir to the thrones of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and 10 other Commonwealth kingdoms in 2011, is no longer with them after they met at university. She will return to her busy program of public service until after Easter.
SANDRINGHAM, NORFOLK – DECEMBER 25: Duchess Kate, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Louis and Mia Tindall attend the Christmas Morning Ceremony at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2023 Attend worship services. Sandringham, Norfolk. (Photo by Samir Hussain/WireImage)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – JANUARY 18: Police officers stand guard outside a London clinic where Kate, Princess of Wales, of the United Kingdom undergoes a scheduled surgery on January 18, 2024 in London, England. . The Princess of Wales will remain in hospital for two weeks after surgery. She underwent successful laparotomy. (Photo by: Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu, Getty Images)
News of the surgery comes on the same day Buckingham Palace revealed that the King himself will be admitted to hospital next week for surgery for an enlarged prostate, which is also said to be non-cancerous. .
It is unusual for there to be one announcement regarding a royal health issue, but two announcements on the same day is unprecedented. During the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II, the palace maintained a strict silence on such matters, apparently wanting to keep them out of the public eye, but the level of secrecy has prompted speculation. When the Queen was clearly unwell but did not say anything, speculation in the media and among the public may have been unhelpful, but this new openness may have led to a new direction for the King. It is clear that he has made up his mind.
As mentioned above, this change has been relatively gradual, with the public now learning about the Duke of Edinburgh's health problems and hospitalizations before his death in 2021, and the surgery the current Queen Camilla underwent in 2007.
With the King on the brink of hospitalization, the Princess of Wales on the mend, and her husband the Prince of Wales on leave to care for her, the royal family is entering a period in which all of its star players will be sidelined. Given that in recent years they have been reduced in size to become more efficient, it is not important to perform actions all at once. According to reports, many of the roles will be filled by the princess royal, 73-year-old Princess Anne, who is considered one of the most consistent and hard-working members of the royal family.
London, United Kingdom – June 17: (Prohibited from publication in British newspapers until 24 hours after creation date and time) Princess Anne, Princess Royal (Colonel of the Blues and Royals), Prince George of Wales, Louis… Kate, Duchess of Wales, Princess of Wales (Colonel of the Irish Guards) watches a Royal Air Force flight from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Color on June 17, 2023 in London, England. Trooping the Color is a traditional military parade held at Horse Guards Parade to commemorate the official birthday of the British monarch. This will be the first Trooping the Color since Charles III ascended the throne. (Photo by Max Manby/Indigo/Getty Images)
