Catherine, the Princess of Wales, has undergone a successful planned abdominal surgery at a private hospital in London, Kensington Palace has announced. The princess, 42, will remain in hospital for up to two weeks, and is unlikely to resume her public duties until after Easter. The palace said the princess wishes to apologise for postponing her upcoming engagements, and hopes the public will respect her privacy and that of her children.
Princess Catherine’s Planned Abdominal Surgery
The palace said the princess was admitted to The London Clinic on Tuesday for the surgery, which was performed by a team of specialists. The London Clinic, near Regent’s Park, describes itself as the UK’s largest independent private hospital, offering a range of services including oncology, cardiology, neurology, and orthopaedics.
The palace did not disclose the exact nature or reason for the surgery, but said it was successful and that the princess is expected to stay in hospital for 10 to 14 days, before returning home to continue her recovery. The palace added that the surgery was planned in advance, and not an emergency procedure.
Updates on Princess Catherine’s Health
While the palace has not revealed the specific medical condition that required the surgery, some experts have speculated that it could be related to endometriosis, a disorder in which tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside the uterus. Endometriosis can cause chronic pain, inflammation, infertility, and sometimes requires surgery to remove the abnormal tissue.
Another possibility is that the princess had a hysterectomy, a surgical operation to remove all or part of the uterus. This can be done for various reasons, such as heavy bleeding, fibroids, cancer, or pelvic pain. A hysterectomy can affect a woman’s hormone levels, sexual function, and emotional well-being, and may require hormone replacement therapy.
The palace said the princess is aware of the interest her surgery will generate, and hopes the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible. The princess has three children with her husband, Prince William: Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5. The palace said the princess also wishes that her personal medical information remains private.
The palace said it will only provide updates on the princess’s progress when there is significant new information to share. It said the princess is grateful for the messages of support and goodwill she has received from around the world.
Impact on Royal Duties
The palace said the princess is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter, which falls on April 1 this year. This means she will miss several royal engagements, including a visit to Scotland with Prince William, a reception for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, and a service to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force.
The palace said the princess wishes to apologise for postponing her engagements, and looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible. The palace said the princess’s office is working closely with the organisations and individuals involved to reschedule the events.
The palace said the princess’s absence will not affect the royal family’s overall schedule, and that other members of the family will step in to cover some of her duties. The palace said the princess’s husband, Prince William, will continue to carry out his official engagements as planned, and will be supported by his father, Prince Charles, his brother, Prince Harry, and other senior royals.
Conclusion
Catherine, the Princess of Wales, has had a planned abdominal surgery at a private hospital in London, and is recovering well. The princess will stay in hospital for up to two weeks, and will not resume her public duties until after Easter. The palace said the princess wishes to apologise for postponing her engagements, and hopes the public will respect her privacy and that of her children. The palace said the princess is grateful for the messages of support and goodwill she has received from around the world.
