King Charles paid a visit to Princess Kate at the London Clinic today, where she has been recovering from abdominal surgery she underwent 10 days ago on January 16th. The monarch’s appearance at Kate’s bedside comes the same day as his own scheduled medical procedure to treat an enlarged prostate.
The monarch has reportedly been worried about Kate’s health in recent weeks. Royal biographer Robert Hardman, who published a biography on Charles last year, said the king thinks very highly of Kate and her value to the monarchy.
“He’s a huge fan of hers. He thinks she’s a great asset,” Hardman stated. He added that while Charles is not panicked over Kate’s condition, he remains concerned, especially given the extended leave she will require.
“She’s fit, she’s young and she’s out of action for three months. That’s a cause for concern, not alarm, but it’s concern,” Hardman commented. “He’ll be more worried than anyone other than Prince William about her.”
Indeed, Kate is expected to take a leave of absence from royal duties for around three months as she recovers from her abdominal procedure. The Palace has not released specific details on the nature of her surgery.
However, medical experts speculate it may have entailed a hysterectomy or oophorectomy – removal of the uterus or ovaries. Women in their late 30s and early 40s sometimes require such operations.
Kate herself just turned 42 on January 9th, a week before her surgery. While the royal couple does have three children already, a hysterectomy would rule out any further pregnancies.
An oophorectomy would induce early menopause, also impacting Kate’s health and wellbeing in significant ways. Either surgery requires an extensive recovery period before returning to normal activity.
Charles’ visit to Kate in the hospital comes after she has already spent over a week there recovering. William has reportedly been a regular presence at his wife’s bedside as she recovers. However, this is the first indication Charles himself has been to see Kate.
The king has a packed schedule today, undergoing his own procedure while still maintaining engagements. That he took time to visit Kate demonstrates the depth of his concern and care for her.
By all accounts, Charles and his daughter-in-law have a close, warm relationship. Kate has been steadily taking on more senior royal responsibilities in recent years as she prepares to one day become Queen consort.
Charles is said to greatly appreciate Kate’s commitment to the monarchy and her readiness to serve. When William becomes King in the future, Kate will play an increasingly important role at his side.
In light of Kate’s current health challenges, Charles will likely aim to reduce her workload over the next few months. Royal expert Hardman expects the king to encourage Kate to prioritize her recovery.
It remains unknown whether Charles’ visit to Kate was purely personal or included some discussion of future plans for the Princess. Regardless, it clearly reflects the monarch’s worries over Kate’s well-being.
Today’s simultaneous hospital visits highlight the close connection between the future and current kings and queens of England. Get well wishes abound for both Kate and Charles as they focus on recovering from their respective medical procedures in the coming weeks.
