Princess of Wales hospitalized after abdominal surgery, King to be ...

Catherine, Princess of Wales, has undergone successful planned abdominal surgery and will be in hospital for up to two weeks, Kensington Palace said on Wednesday.

The news of Catherine's surgery emerged shortly before Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles had sought treatment for an enlarged prostate, adding that the condition was benign and he would attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure.

Buckingham Palace said the King's engagements would be postponed for a short period of recuperation.

Catherine, 42, the wife of heir to the throne Prince William, was last seen in public on Christmas Day when members of the Royal Family walked to church near the King's Sandringham home in eastern England. There was no prior indication she was unwell.

The Kensington Palace statement said Catherine was admitted to the London Clinic, a private hospital in the British capital, on Tuesday, and was expected to remain there for 10 to 14 days of treatment before returning home to recover.

No details of the surgery was given, but a spokesman said the condition was non-cancerous.

"The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate," the statement said. "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."

Her office said it would only provide updates on her progress when there was "significant new information to share."

Kensington Palace said Catherine wished to apologize "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."

Born Catherine Middleton, the eldest of three children of middle-class, self-made entrepreneurs, she became the Princess of Wales after the death of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022, when William was given the title of Prince of Wales, which his father, Charles, had held for more than six decades.

Polls show that since her marriage to William, 41, in 2011, she has become one of the most popular members of the Royal Family. She is also considered a global fashion icon who regularly graces the front pages of glossy magazines.

Catherine and William have three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. She spent four days in hospital in 2012 suffering from severe morning sickness while pregnant with George.

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