Catherine, Princess of Wales, on Thursday re-ceived a visit from her husband Prince William as she recovered in hospital from surgery that will prevent her from undertaking frontline royal duties for several months.
Her father-in-law, British head of state King Charles III, is also facing a medical procedure for an enlarged prostate, forcing him to cancel some engagements. But his wife, Queen Camilla, said he was in otherwise good health.
Asked about her 75-year-old husband on a visit to Aberdeen, northeast Scotland, Camilla, 76, said: “He’s fine, thank you very much. Looking forward to getting back to work.”
Palace officials on Wednesday issued two statements within 90 minutes, disclosing that the 42-year-old princess had undergone abdominal surgery on Tuesday and that she faced up to two weeks’ recuperation.
The operation was a success and not linked to cancer, they said, without elaborating. Charles, who succeeded his mother Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, will have a “corrective proce-dure” for a benign enlarged prostate next week.
The health scares leave the already slimmed-down monarchy without three of its most senior figures. Camilla is now the most visible working royal over the coming weeks.
“It is unheard of, I think, to have three of the most senior royals temporarily out of action, post-poning engagements,” Sky News’ Royal Correspondent Laura Bundock noted.
William, Charles’s elder son and heir to the throne, was seen driving away from The London Clinic on Thursday lunchtime.
The 41-year-old Prince of Wales has postponed upcoming public engagements to be at her side at the private hospital, and to care for their three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five.
The couple’s Kensington Palace office has said they will not be issuing rolling updates about the princess’s health.
But that has not stopped huge media interest, with photographers and film crews stationed outside the facility, which has previously treated the late queen’s husband Prince Philip.
Her younger sister Princess Margaret and for-mer US president John F Kennedy have also been patients.
The disclosure about the king’s imminent procedure appears to have boosted prostate-related health awareness.
The state-run National Health Service (NHS) saw a significant increase in searches for an “enlarged prostate” on its website Wednesday, with more than 11 times as many visits compared to Tuesday.
Charles, who is also head of state of 14 other countries outside the United Kingdom, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand, inherited the throne at an age when most men in developed countries have retired.—Agencies
