It’s a big day for the British Royal Family to make announcements on medical care for two of its members.
Tuesday, Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, underwent “planned abdominal surgery” and all went well. Kensington Palace announced the surgery was successful.
“The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days, before returning home to continue her recovery,” read a statement on Instagram Wednesday, adding that the Princess of Wales “is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.”
Middleton, 42, expressed her desire to “maintain as much normality for her children as possible” and beyond the announcement have her personal information remain private.
She and Prince William share three children: Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5.
The palace will only release “significant” updates due to her wish for privacy. It has been reported that the ailment is not cancer. Her expected hospital stay of 10 – 14 days indicates it is serious surgery, though.
Her husband, William, the Prince of Wales, will be balancing time with his children with taking care of his wife so his schedule will be altered to reflect additional family time. Obviously, royalty has plenty of staff to attend to them but it’s a nice storyline that he is like most husbands and fathers who want to pitch in and keep things running smoothly.
Kate hasn’t been seen in public since Christmas festivities.
Following the news of Kate’s surgery and extended hospitalization, it was announced that King Charles has an enlarged prostrate and it requires a corrective procedure. Buckingham Palace announced he will undergo the procedure next week. His condition is said to be benign. King Charles is 75-years-old.
“In common with thousands of men each year, the king has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate,” the palace said. “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.”
It is understood that the king was keen to share the details of his diagnosis to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get checked in line with public health advice.
About one in three men over the age of 50 will have some symptoms of an enlarged prostate, which is a gland that sits just below the bladder.
It’s reported that King Charles wanted the announcement to be made, as upcoming events scheduled on his calendar will include foreign dignitaries traveling to meet with him. Like Kate, he will have a change in schedule as he recovers.
It is understood Buckingham Palace made the king’s condition public as he had a series of meetings and events planned at Dumfries House, the property in Scotland that he saved for the nation, on Thursday and Friday, which were being postponed on his doctor’s advice.
With guests including foreign dignitaries and members of the cabinet due to travel, Buckingham Palace felt it necessary to make people aware of the situation.
Transparency is good. The ongoing story in America of the Secretary of Defense essentially going AWOL after he underwent cancer surgery and had complications post-surgery which required him to be taken by ambulance to an ICU bed in Walter Reed National Military Medical Center proves. The president, on a vacation in the Caribbean, didn’t know about this, and Secretary Austin’s deputy was on vacation in Puerto Rico. She was unaware Austin was hospitalized when she was told she would be taking over in his absence. What a mess. This all allegedly came about because of Austin’s desire for privacy. Sorry, buddy. A person in public office, especially those in top offices like Austin, should have no expectations of personal privacy. Them’s the breaks.
As I do with Secretary Austin, I wish the Princess of Wales and King Charles III complete and speedy recoveries.