Catherine, the Princess of Wales, is recovering in hospital following successful planned abdominal surgery at the London Clinic. She has spent her second night at the private hospital. Buckingham Palace stated that the princess is “doing well”, and while the specific details of her operation are private, it is not related to cancer and was not an emergency.
The degree of information provided about Catherine’s hospital stay is being interpreted as an unprecedented move towards greater transparency by the Royal Family. Previous royal health concerns have been kept behind a veil of privacy. Prince William was seen leaving the hospital after visiting his wife. He is expected to alter his schedule to spend more time with her while she recuperates. The surgery is likely to keep the princess away from official duties until after Easter.
Meanwhile, the King is also undergoing a procedure for an enlarged prostate. He is currently based at his private home, Birkhall, whilst he prepares for the operation. Buckingham Palace has stated that the King is “fine” and looking forward to returning to work. According to royal aides, the motive behind sharing such information is to raise public awareness about prostate problems and remove the reluctance to talk about them.
The willingness of the Royal Family to publicise its health concerns is reminiscent of Prince Philip’s honesty about his health when he faced surgery for a blocked coronary artery in 2011. The leaders of the Royal Family have recognised the potential benefit of raising awareness about health issues by sharing their own experiences, thereby reducing the stigma attached to such ailments. However, the King’s short hospital stay is unlikely to require a stand-in for his usual constitutional role as the head of state
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