Catherine, Princess of Wales, hospitalised for abdominal surgery

The Princess of Wales has been taken to hospital for surgery and will remain out of the public eye for months, Kensington Palace has said.

Catherine, the Princess of Wales, has been taken to hospital in London.

The princess, 42, has planned abdominal surgery at a private hospital in the UK capital.

The surgery at the London Clinic was “successful”, according to a statement released by Kensington Palace.

Kate will remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days and will be out of action for some time.

The news came just hours before Buckingham Palace announced King Charles would also be heading to hospital next week. He is having treatment for an enlarged prostate.

The double health statements mean two of the most senior royals could be out of action for weeks.

Kate was last seen in public on Christmas Day at a church service near the Royal residence of Sandringham in Norfolk, in England’s east.

Kate is set to be out of the public eye for months. (Photo by Zac Goodwin / POOL / AFP)

Police stand guard outside The London Clinic on January 17, 2024. Picture: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Out for months

“Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter,” a statement said.

Kate is expected to recover at Windsor Castle.

The Palace said the princess apologised for missing planned engagements. It’s thought Prince William will also postpone all engagements for the next fortnight and scale back his duties after that so he can spend more time with his wife.

Britain’s Sky News said the operation was “routine”. Newspaper The Sun said it was understood the surgery was not cancer related but it wasn’t clear what the underlying issue was. The palace isn’t divulging the details of Catherine’s illness.

Catherine, Princess of Wales attends the Christmas morning service at Sandringham Church on December 25 – her most recent public engagement. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)

The Royal statement 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.

“Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness’s progress when there is significant new information to share.”

It continued that the Princess of Wales: “wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements. She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible.”

Kate marked her 42nd birthday about a week ago with Prince William and her three children at the home of her parents Carole and Michael Middleton in Berkshire, west of London.