It’s not usual for members of the British royal family to visit each other in hospital, but King Charles III had time to greet Princess Catherine of Wales yesterday before undergoing surgery to fix his enlarged prostate problem. The 75-year-old monarch arrived around nine o’clock in the morning accompanied by Queen Camilla at the same London clinic where his daughter-in-law is still admitted, who is recovering from a mysterious abdominal surgery of which he did not want to give details .
It was Camil·la, who left the center alone a few hours after her husband’s operation, who revealed with a big smile that everything had turned out “well”. In the morning, Buckingham communicated the king’s wishes “to thank everyone who sent their good wishes over the past week and is delighted to know that his diagnosis is having a positive impact on public health awareness”.
It is not confirmed how long Charles III will have to stay at the London Clinic, in the Marylebone district, but it is expected that he will remain admitted for at least one night. The king has postponed official engagements for a “short” recovery period, as indicated by the palace.
The monarch arrived at the clinic minutes after leaving Clarence House, the royal couple’s residence since 2003 and will remain until the completion of extensive renovations at Buckingham Palace, which are scheduled to be completed in 2027. Charles III arrived at his residence in the British capital on Thursday by helicopter from the Sandringham estate in Norfolk. He had been resting there since the previous Friday after flying back with Camilla from Birkhall, his private home near Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
The monarch’s operation took place while Prince William’s wife is recovering from surgery that will keep her in hospital for 10 to 14 days, and Middleton is not expected to return to official engagements until after Easter.
The hermeticism about the princess’s health has only multiplied concern and speculation. As stated in the press release on Wednesday of last week, it was Caterina herself who requested that the type of illness affecting her not be disclosed, although the British media assure that it would not be cancer. Charles III’s diagnosis was announced only 90 minutes after the princess’s situation was revealed: “Like thousands of men every year, the king has sought treatment for prostate enlargement.”
In the course of 2023, Charles III fulfilled 516 official commitments, which is why, according to British media this week, Queen Camilla has asked him to “slow down” after recovery.
Charles’ ex-sister-in-law Sarah Ferguson, who retained the title of Duchess of York after splitting from Prince Andrew, also revealed last Sunday that she has been diagnosed with skin cancer, adding even more alarm to the problems of health issues affecting the British Royal Family.
