London – The British royal family is dealing with some health issues that will impact their public engagements over the coming weeks.
King Charles III, who ascended the throne last year after the passing of his mother Queen Elizabeth II, will undergo a common procedure for an enlarged prostate next week, Buckingham Palace announced on Wednesday. The 75-year-old monarch’s condition is benign and affects many men over 50. It impacts urination but is not usually a serious health threat or linked to prostate cancer.
The publicity around the king’s upcoming surgery presents an opportunity to encourage prostate health screenings and checks, which aligns with public health advice. Thousands of men have similar procedures annually.
Meanwhile, Charles’ daughter-in-law Kate, the Princess of Wales, has been hospitalized for abdominal surgery and will need to rest and recover for potentially two weeks, her office at Kensington Palace said.
The 42-year-old Kate, formerly known as Kate Middleton prior to her marriage to Prince William, was admitted to the private London Clinic on Tuesday. Her condition is not cancer-related, her office confirmed, but did not provide further details.
The princess has apologized for postponing upcoming engagements and will not return to royal duties until after Easter, per the palace.
“The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate,” the palace said. “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.”
Kate and William have three young children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The princess has been known to suffer from acute morning sickness during her pregnancies, leading to prior hospitalizations. But she is generally viewed as having good health and a strong constitution.
The back-to-back health updates on senior members of the royal family are unusual. However, they likely aim to front-run speculation and concerning rumors if events and engagements are postponed or cancelled over the coming month.
The British press and public have been highly focused on the health of the aging royals, particularly in Queen Elizabeth II’s final years as she retreated from public duties. At 96 years old, she was the nation’s longest-reigning monarch.
Charles ascended the throne upon her death last September at age 73, considered old by modern standards for such new responsibilities. But he has so far maintained a vigorous schedule of public events and foreign travel.
Kate and William have also taken on more prominence and duties as the next generation, after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back as senior royals and moved to California. Kate and William are now seen as among the most steadfast and popular royal family members.
The princess is known for her reliability at events, warmly engaging with the public, and gracefully navigating royal protocols. She has comforted grieving families at children’s hospices and also displayed her musical talents at televised Christmas concerts on the piano.
Her Abdominal surgery and recovery are expected to curtail activities for potentially months. But the palace indicated she aims to maintain normalcy for her young children and protect her medical privacy during this period.
The British public appears sympathetic and largely satisfied with the level of disclosure around the king and princess‘ procedures. Most are wishing the popular royals a smooth recovery as they tend to their health privately.
