King to have prostate treatment as Princess of Wales undergoes abdominal surgery

The Princess of Wales has had abdominal surgery and will not return to royal duties until after Easter, Kensington Palace has announced.

Seperately Buckingham Palace announced that the King is being treated for an enlarged prostate.

The Princess was admitted to The London Clinic on Tuesday and the planned surgery was successful.

Kensington Palace said she would remain in hospital for up to two weeks and is unlikely to return to work for at least another two months.

Royal sources said the Prince of Wales planned to combine being by both his wife and their children’s sides throughout the recovery process.

He will also, therefore, postpone a number of engagements as he supports his family and will not undertake official duties while the Princess is in hospital, or during the immediate period following her return home to Windsor.

It is thought that two short overseas tours, planned for the coming weeks, have been postponed.

The palace has declined to provide further information about the Princess’s condition.

06:56 PM GMTThat’s all for today

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06:47 PM GMTRecap

05:57 PM GMTLast time King Charles seen in public

King Charles was last seen in public arriving at Crathie Kirk, near Balmoral, for a Sunday church service on January 14 with Queen Camilla.

King Charles and Queen Camilla last seen in public on January 14 – PA

05:31 PM GMTPress await updates on the Princess of Wales

The world’s media has descended upon the London Clinic after the news broke that the Princess of Wales was recovering in the hospital following abdominal surgery.

Stationed opposite the building across the busy Marylebone Road dual carriageway, international and domestic media representatives are waiting for any updates on her condition.

Sources have confirmed the Princess is okay and Kensington Palace has so far declined to go into any further detail than an earlier statement.

A police officer patrolling the back garage of the clinic’s building – which is now shut off but is filled with rubbish bins – could be heard quipping with his colleagues that the bins were the best protected in London.

05:05 PM GMTWhat is an enlarged prostate?

An enlarged prostate is common in men over the age of 50 and does not usually pose a serious threat to health, according to the NHS.

Referred to by medics as benign prostate enlargement (BPE), the condition is not a cancer and those with it are not at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer.

Symptoms are often mild but can be “very troublesome” for some, the NHS website says.

When the prostate becomes enlarged, it can put pressure on the bladder and the urethra, which is the tube that urine passes through.

This can cause someone to urinate more often and come into difficulty when doing so.

It is not fully understood why some men develop the condition, but it is believed to be linked to hormonal changes as a man gets older.

04:43 PM GMTPrincess of Wales last seen smiling on Christmas Day

The Princess was last seen in public as she walked to church with the Royal family on Christmas Day.

She was pictured smiling and greeting wellwishers as she arrived at St Mary Magdalene Church in a long navy coat.

Two weeks later, the Princess spent her 42nd birthday, on January 9, privately with family in Windsor.

The following day, her three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, returned to school after the Christmas break.

04:31 PM GMTKing ‘very keen’ for diagnosis to be revealed

The King was “very keen” that the details of his diagnosis were revealed in order to encourage others to get checked out.

The condition is particularly common in men over 50.

According to the NHS website, symptoms include finding it difficult to urinate, needing to urinate frequently or having a weak flow of urine.

There are various corrective treatments, including the removal of part of the prostate gland using a tube passed through the urethra or a laser.

04:29 PM GMTPublic engagements cancelled due to symptoms

The King made an appointment for a check up after experiencing some symptoms connected to the condition, it is understood.

It is due to those symptoms that he has cancelled public engagements this week.

04:00 PM GMTKing diagnosed earlier today

The King, who is currently staying at Birkhall, his private home on the Balmoral estate, received his diagnosis earlier today, the Telegraph understands.

It came after he attended a check up earlier this week.

The palace declined to say whether he would be treated in Scotland or return to London

Counsellors of State – those required to stand in for the monarch when he is incapacitated – will not be required as the King will be conscious and fully capable of discharging his duties as normal.

However, Charles, 75, is expected to remain in hospital overnight.

Sources said he would be back in action after what is likely to be a relatively short recuperation period.

03:32 PM GMTKing treated for enlarged prostate

Buckingham Palace has announced that the King is being treated for an enlarged prostate.

He will be treated in hospital next week and has postponed scheduled public engagements.

In a statement the palace 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.”

03:28 PM GMTAnalysis by Deputy Royal Editor Victoria Ward

The London Clinic is an unusual choice for the Princess, who was admitted to the King Edward VII Hospital – long favoured by senior royals – when she suffered with Hyperemesis Gravidarum during pregnancy.

A Care Quality Commission report published in December 2021 following an inspection of The London Clinic, found that its surgical services “required improvement”.

The surgery’s leadership was found to be “inadequate” with frequent concerns being raised.

03:17 PM GMTMore than a dozen officers patrolling area

There are now more than a dozen officers patrolling the area nearby The London Clinic.

Groups of police are stationed at the back and side entrances of the private hospital as well as the main door.

03:11 PM GMTPrincess’ recovery may take three months

Sources confirmed that the Princess of Wales is okay, but it is understood she will need to recuperate from the surgery for two to three months.

02:40 PM GMTPolice guarding hospital entrance

Two Metropolitan police officers are stationed outside the entrance of The London Clinic, where the Princess of Wales is expected to stay for up to two weeks while she recovers from her surgery.

The clinic is a private hospital based in Marylebone in central London.

Police officers stand outside The London Clinic where the Princess of Wales is recovering postoperation

02:35 PM GMTPrincess wasn’t rushed to hospital

The Princess was not rushed to hospital, the Telegraph can confirm.

Sources said it was not something that developed over the weekend, suggesting it has been planned for at least a few days, if not more.

02:33 PM GMTFurther details could be released at later stage

The Telegraph understands that Kensington Palace has not ruled out more details about the Princess’s surgery being revealed in due course.

Sources noted that it was the Princess’s private medical information and so was a matter entirely for her.

However, it is thought that as and when she is ready to talk about it, she may opt to do so.

Kensington Palace declined to go into any further detail about the Princess’s condition.

Aides would not say whether it was something that might affect her in the longer term or have longer term repercussions.

02:31 PM GMTAbdominal issue ‘not cancerous’

Kensington Palace has confirmed that the Princess of Wales’ planned abdominal surgery was not dealing with a “cancerous” issue.

The Princess underwent successful surgery on Wednesday at The London Clinic and is now recovering in hospital postoperation.

02:20 PM GMTPrincess last pictured in public at Christmas

The Princess of Wales and royals attending the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church

Last time Princess of Wales pictured in public during Christmas – Mark Cuthbert/UK Press

02:12 PM GMTKensington Palace statement

“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 fourteen 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.”

It added: “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’ 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.”

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