Last Monday, Kate Middleton was finally discharged from the hospital 13 days after her abdominal surgery. She will now continue her recovery at her home in Windsor, where she lives with her husband, Prince William, and three children.
The palace released a statement saying, “The Princess of Wales has returned home to Windsor to continue her recovery from surgery. She is making good progress.” The statement also mentioned that the princess and her husband are grateful for the well wishes they have received from around the world.
Kate Middleton, who is 42 years old, underwent a “planned abdominal surgery” at The London Clinic on January 16. The surgery was successful, but she was expected to remain in the hospital for 10 to 14 days before returning home to continue her recovery.
Based on medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter. The palace also addressed the public’s curiosity, saying, “The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible.”
The palace revealed that Kate’s surgery was for a non-cancerous issue, and her husband postponed his duties to take care of her and their children. He did not undertake any official duties while his wife was in the hospital and is not expected to during the early days of her home recovery.
A source close to the royal household told PEOPLE that it is sensible for Kate to take the necessary recovery time before returning to public duty. The source also mentioned that it is good for all of us to see her taking the time and recovering properly before returning.
On Christmas, Kate was seen with the royal family during their annual tradition of walking to church and greeting members of the public outside after the service. It was her last public appearance before her surgery.
Prince William, on the other hand, made his first official outing of the new year on January 11 at Headlingley Stadium in Leeds. He joined two friends, Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield, who have been raising money for research and work to combat Motor Neurone Disease.
Hours after the palace announced Kate’s surgery, Buckingham Palace revealed that King Charles had also sought treatment for an enlarged prostate. The 75-year-old was admitted to The London Clinic on Friday and visited Kate before undergoing his own procedure. He is reported to be doing well.
The Queen, who is 76 years old, visited the hospital on Friday evening and gave a brief update to the well-wishers gathered outside, saying, “He’s fine, thank you.” It was reported that the King’s surgery was completed later that day. Both the King and Prince William were treated at the same hospital.
The palace’s statement also mentioned Kate’s desire for her personal medical information to remain private. They assured that updates will only be provided when there is significant new information to share. The statement concluded with an apology from the Princess of Wales for postponing her upcoming engagements and her hope to reinstate as many as possible once she has fully recovered.
