The Prince of Wales spent time at his wife’s hospital bedside on Thursday as she continues to recover from abdominal surgery. Kate Middleton was said by British media to be “doing well” following the Tuesday procedure, details around which were not immediately disclosed by Kensington Palace.
Prince William was photographed behind the wheel of a car as he departed the private London Clinic by its back entrance around noon, according to The Telegraph. He was expected to pick the couple’s three children up from school later that day, and is generally understood to be planning to devote as much time as possible to his family while Kate heals.
Both are set to take time off from their royal duties in the wake of the surgery, with the BBC reporting that a planned trip to Italy this spring is “likely to be rearranged.” Kate, who is not expected to resume public engagements until after Easter, is expected to remain hospitalized for another 10 to 14 days, according to Kensington Palace.
Britain’s Prince William leaves the London Clinic, where Catherine, Princess of Wales, is hospitalised for abdominal surgery, in London, Britain, January 18, 2024.
Hannah McKay/Reuters
The exact nature of the Princess of Wales’ ailment remains murky, but palace sources told multiple outlets that her condition is “non-cancerous.”
Her surgery was announced by royal officials a little over an hour before they confirmed that another royal was under the weather: King Charles III. The monarch has been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate and will undergo what the palace called a “corrective procedure” next week. His benign condition is common in men over 50 and isn’t usually a serious health threat, according to experts.
On Thursday, as her stepson made his pilgrimage to the London Clinic, Queen Camilla gave an update on the king’s health, saying, “He’s fine, thank you very much. Looking forward to getting back to work.”
