The Wales children have had an unsettled start to 2024 with their mother, the Princess of Wales admitted to The London Clinic on January 16th for "planned abdominal surgery".
Kensington Palace took the public and royal watchers by surprise, releasing a statement after the Princess had been admitted. The statement also said that Catherine would be in hospital for up to two weeks and would not return to public duties until after Easter. It reassured the public by stating that Catherine's condition was non cancerous.
Prince William put his family before duty, clearing his diary so he could maintain some normalcy for his young children- doing the school drop offs and pick ups and caring for them in the absence of their mum. Supported by the Middleton family and nanny Maria, William was able to regularly visit Catherine in hospital.
George, Charlotte & Louis did not visit their mum although they all enjoyed Face Time calls with her. The Princess's separation from the children has been the longest of their young lives which will have been very unsettling for the little royals and a wrench for their devoted mother.
Only hours after Kensington Palace released it's statement about Catherine's surgery, Buckingham Palace then made public the news that King Charles too would be admitted to The London Clinic in the coming days for non cancerous prostate surgery.
And so on 26th January the King was admitted to hospital and paid a visit to his daughter in law before making his way to his own rooms.
With Charles, William and Catherine all stepping back from royal duties, the Royal Family was depleted of working royals. Queen Camilla, the Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, along with the elderly Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were the only royals available to undertake official duties.
The King returned home on Monday 29th January and the Princess likewise was discharged on the same day to recover in Adelaide Cottage.
Cancer Diagnosis
The King was recovering and planning a return to royal duties in the following weeks when the public had to digest the next royal medical statement. Buckingham Palace announced on 5th February that following diagnostic tests whilst hospitalised for the prostate procedure, it was discovered that Charles had an unrelated cancer.
He has now commenced regular treatments for the undisclosed cancer and will not be undertaking public duties. The King however will still be attending to the daily "Red Box" of Government, State, Church and Diplomatic papers, many requiring his signature or to be read .
King Charles has retreated to Sandringham House in Norfolk and will travel to London for treatment. Charles will also continue to meet with the Prime Minister weekly, either in person or via video link.
Prince William has returned to his engagements and where necessary will stand in for his father. And the Wales family has taken this week's half term break to spend time at Anmer Hall, also on the royal Sandringham Estate.
Anmer Hall was a wedding gift to Catherine and William from Queen Elizabeth in 2011. The family has used it as both a full time residence when the children were small and as a place to retreat to during school breaks.
Best wishes to both King Charles and the Princess of Wales for full and speedy recoveries.
