Princess Catherine’s abdominal surgery ‘shocked close friends, staff’

Princess Catherine’s health scare came as a huge surprise to those closest to the royal, it has been claimed.

It was the double health scare that shocked royal fans and left three senior members of the already stripped-down monarchy out of action.

It has now been claimed that Princess Catherine’s admission to hospital for abdominal surgery also came as a huge surprise to those close to the family as well as staff members.

The mother-of-three has spent the last week in Marylebone’s London Clinic recovering after the planned surgery and will be out of action until at least Easter.

The Princess of Wales’ health issues came as a shock to close friends, it has been claimed. Picture: AFP

Kensington Palace has not revealed further details of the Princess’s condition but confirmed it was non-cancerous.

Her husband Prince William has cleared his diary of official visits and meetings as he takes care of the pair’s three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

He has also spent time at his wife’s bedside as she recovers, with reports she is “doing well”.

Prince William drives himself away from the London Clinic after visiting his wife. Picture: AFP

Police officers stand guard outside the London Clinic, where Princess Catherine has been staying for the past week. Picture: AFP

Just 90 minutes after it was revealed last week that Princess Catherine was undergoing surgery, it was announced that King Charles would also be dropping royal duties as he prepared to undergo a procedure for an enlarged prostate.

The Princess of Wales has not been seen in public since Christmas Day when she accompanied the rest of the royals for the traditional walk to church in Sandringham.

Princess Catherine smiled and shook hands with royal fans outside church, giving no indication that there was anything wrong with her health.

The royal was last seen in public on Christmas Day at Sandringham. Picture: AFP

Princess Catherine will be out of action until at least Easter. Picture: AFP

Within her broader circle of family friends as well as staffers, news that the royal was in hospital came as a huge surprise, according to PEOPLE magazine.

After Christmas, Princess Catherine and her family were in residence at their Anmer Hall home in Norfolk where they caught up with friends and celebrated her 42nd birthday on January 9.

As they deal with the unprecedented health scare, a royal source told The Sunday Times the couple have switched to “100 per cent family first, day job second”.

Aides said the Princess will be out of sight over the next few months but is likely to be working from her bed.

“Her passion for the early years is clear – there will be a huge continuation of that campaign and she will be keen to be out continuing that conversation with the nation as soon as possible,” the source told the newspaper.

A Kensington Palace spokesman said: “The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. 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.”