Princess Catherine has major abdominal surgery and King Charles will have prostate surgery next week

Princess Catherine has undergone major abdominal surgery, sidelining her for months, as King Charles cancelled appointments ahead of prostate surgery.

King Charles III and Princess Catherine, The King will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure to treat an enlarged prostate, Buckingham Palace says, as Kensington Palace says the Princess of Wales is facing up to two weeks in hospital after undergoing successful abdominal surgery. Picture: Pool/AFP

Catherine, the Princess of Wales, has undergone major abdominal surgery and is expected to remain in hospital for 10 days to two weeks and convalesce for several months, Kensington Palace has announced.

The royal shock news continued when Buckingham Palace then announced that King Charles would also be having surgery next week on an enlarged prostate.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “In common with thousands of men each year, the King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate.

“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.”

While the King, 75, wanted to inform the public about his medical condition to encourage more men to check their prostate, Catherine, 42, has wanted to keep her exact medical condition private.

Future royal engagements have been thrown into turmoil following the twin medical issues involving Charles and his daughter-in-law.

King Charles and Queen Camilla at the traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham last December 25. Picture: X / @RoyalFamily

Charles has now postponed his engagements at Dumfries House for the rest of the week.

All of Prince William’s engagements have also been postponed for the time his wife is in hospital and the immediate period when she returns home to Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor estate.

William is to help Catherine recover and also look after their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Catherine, one of the most popular royal members, hasn’t been seen in public since the Christmas Day walk at Sandringham, and her health has gripped Britain, with commentators, live blogs and television presenters wishing her a speedy recovery.

The length of Catherine’s planned recuperation – around two weeks in the private hospital, The London Clinic, followed by two to three months convalescing without any public engagements – has worried Britain and has indicated that her surgery, while planned, was quite significant.

The Palace said it wouldn’t comment on the Princess’s condition but soon after releasing the statement, they confirmed “the condition was not cancerous’’.

There were reports that Kate wasn’t rushed to hospital on Tuesday, but that the surgery was planned, perhaps with a few days’ notice.

Media workers stand with their television broadcast cameras opposite the entrance to the London Clinic, where Catherine, Princess of Wales, is facing up to two weeks after undergoing successful abdominal surgery. Picture: AFP

The need for the palace to cancel several months of engagements, including two short overseas tours, and a possible visit to see Pope Francis in the Vatican City, indicates that the surgery had not been factored into the Wales’s early 2024 plans.

It had been noted in a mumsnet.com website column that Catherine, unusually, hadn’t been seen driving her three children to school in January.

Palace staff say the Princess will be recuperating until at least Easter, meaning she won’t be back at work before April at the earliest.

Princess Catherine, with Princes George (left) and Louis, as King Charles III waves to well-wishers after attending the royal family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate. Picture: AFP

A spokesperson 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.

“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.”

Princess Catherine, and children Princess Charlotte and Prince George of Wales, Prince William, Prince Louis and Mia Tindall at the 2023 Christmas Morning Service. Picture: Samir Hussein/WireImage

Catherine spent time in hospital when she was pregnant because of hyperemesis gravidarum, severe morning sickness.

She underwent surgery late Tuesday and it was “successful”, the palace said.

Metropolitan police officers have been positioned outside the entrances of The London Clinic, in Marylebone.