AT KATE'S SIDE
Royals rocked by Princess Kate health shock as she faces 3 months rest & William cuts back duties to care for children
William has been doing the school run in between trips to see Kate in hospital
CARING Prince William was at the Princess of Wales’s bedside before and after yesterday’s surgery on her abdomen.
Kate, 42, will now remain at the London Clinic for up to two weeks and is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.
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The dramatic news was announced by Kensington Palace at 2pm yesterday, but royal sources were quick to say it was not related in any way to cancer.
Less than 90 minutes later in a second royal shock, Buckingham Palace announced the King would need an operation on an enlarged prostate.
It is understood that William and Kate have been in touch with Charles and Queen Camilla.
Kate was whisked to the clinic on Tuesday for a planned surgery appointment and did not go by ambulance, sources said.
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The Waleses’ three children George, ten, Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five, were all at Lambrook School in Berkshire yesterday as the family keep things as normal as possible.
Future king William has been doing the school run in between trips to see his wife.
It is believed he had left the hospital before the Palace announcement yesterday afternoon.
Officials have not revealed the nature of the surgery due to Kate’s “medical privacy”. But a source said she was doing well.
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William is expected to be a regular visitor, travelling in 25 miles from their home, Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, Berks.
Kate is expected to remain under supervision by doctors and medical experts for at least ten days.
The Palace advised that her spell in hospital could be as long as two weeks. She will then be discharged to rest back home.
She will not be well enough to return to royal engagements until after Easter which means she is out of work for up to 11 weeks to recover. It is thought she may not appear in public until April.
It has forced Kate and William to postpone top-secret plans to visit British troops stationed abroad.
An official visit to Italy in February has been called off and William will not travel alone.
Kate’s major projects launched last year, including her Shaping Us initiative for under-fives, will take a back seat while she recovers.
Wills is also going to cut back on his number of public engagements to take on more parental duties.
He and Kate had been expected to feature heavily at events marking Mental Health Awareness Week next month.
The couple, who moved from Kensington Palace to the Windsor estate 18 months ago, do not have a live-in nanny.
A statement from Kensington Palace said: “Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to The London Clinic yesterday for planned abdominal surgery.
“The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to 14 days, before returning home to continue her recovery.
“Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.
“The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes 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.
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“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.”
Planned abdominal surgery could involve any of the vital or reproductive organs such as the stomach, bowel or womb.
Sun GP Dr Zoe Williams said: “This might be something that has been bothering her for her whole life which she has not got round to resolving, or an issue that has come to light more recently.
"Two weeks in hospital is longer than we would normally expect, but she doesn’t have a normal life.
“She’s the future queen so the doctors will be erring on the side of caution.
“We all hope it is something minor and the surgery is straightforward, but precaution is wise.
“With anything medical you can never be completely certain how things will go.
"The most important thing is that she gets enough recovery time and it’s not too stressful for her and her family.”
Kate was last seen in public on Christmas Day as she, William and their children walked to St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham.
She looked relaxed and smiling as she spoke to festive well-wishers.
If Kate recuperates to schedule then her first engagement back could be at the family service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor on Easter Sunday, March 31.
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But the medical advice is she would likely be recuperating until April.
In 2012 Kate spent several days in hospital with morning sickness when she was 12 weeks’ pregnant with George.
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PHILIP WAS A PATIENT
By Sam Blanchard
PRINCESS Kate can expect the very finest treatment as she recovers at The London Clinic — the largest private hospital in Britain.
The 92-year-old facility is in the heart of Harley Street, the capital’s renowned medical district near Regent’s Park.
Past patients have included Prince Philip, who had abdominal surgery there in 2013.
Prime Ministers Anthony Eden and Clement Attlee, US president John F Kennedy and actress Elizabeth Taylor have also been treated at the clinic.
Housekeepers maintain its individual rooms and patients have received a luxury hotel service standard since the kitchens opened in 1935.
Chefs prepare meals using meat and fish from local markets and an artisan bakery.
Patients can book tours, theatre shows and restaurants through its concierge service to, as it suggests, make the most of their time in London.
Every year, 120,000 people are treated by what are billed as “experts with world-class resources dedicated to maintaining the highest standards”.
It has state-of-the-art surgical robots, Europe’s largest stem cell unit and staff specialising in complex conditions. Surveys found 99 per cent of patients would recommend it.
The late Queen, King Charles, Queen Camilla and Princess Margaret have all officially opened wings and units at the clinic, which the Care Quality Commission watchdog rated “good” overall in 2021. However, it said the surgery department “requires improvement”.
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