It’s been months since Princess Kate of Wales has made a public appearance, and rumors continue to swirl about her wellbeing.Video above: Why the Princess of Wales is on guard over health issuesMost recently, Kate has reportedly been dealing with “intense stress.”Among the issues Kate is facing, per the outlet: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have stepped back from the royal family, she’s undergone abdominal surgery, and chaos ensued when Kensington Palace released a Photoshopped picture of the princess and her kids. In addition to errors in the photo, royal watchers pointed out that Kate wasn’t wearing her wedding ring. The official word from the palace is that the 42-year-old is “doing well” after having planned abdominal surgery.”Kensington Palace made it clear in January the timelines of the Princess’ recovery and we’d only be providing significant updates,” a spokesperson said in February. “That guidance stands.”But the story has only gotten bigger ever since Kate shared that her U.K. Mother’s Day photo had been edited.Here’s everything we know about Kate’s abdominal surgery and the diagnosis behind it, plus all of the health updates we’ve heard so far. What is abdominal surgery?Abdominal surgery is a broad term used to describe a surgical procedure that involves opening the abdominal cavity, according to The University of Tennessee Medical Center. It usually involves treating diseases, conditions, or injuries to the stomach and bowels, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, bile ducts, or surrounding soft tissues, the organization says.The way the surgery is completed depends on the procedure someone is having done. Some medical conditions require more intensive surgeries, while others can be done via laparoscopic surgery, which is a surgical technique where short, narrow tubes are inserted into the abdomen through small incisions, per Medline Plus.Recovery time can vary for abdominal surgery, depending on the type of surgery someone has and why it was done. With laparoscopic surgery, you can usually go back to work after three days, Cleveland Clinic says. However, recovery from more invasive surgeries may take longer.What is Kate’s diagnosis?Kensington Palace have not specified a diagnosis or reason behind Kate’s surgery. Palace officials noted that she wants to keep this information private, so the public will likely never know.However, PEOPLE noted that the issue is “non-cancerous,” and according to Kensington Palace’s official statement, the surgery was “planned” and “successful.”That said, the Princess of Wales “situation came as a surprise even to those who work closely with the royal family” and that “within their broader circle of family friends, there had been no indication that anything was wrong,” PEOPLE reported.What are common reasons for abdominal surgery?There are a lot of potential reasons someone might undergo abdominal surgery, including the repair or removal of different tissues and organs in the abdominal area, per The University of Tennessee Medical Center.Common reasons for abdominal surgeries include:Removal of the appendix (aka an appendectomy)Gall bladder removal surgeryHernia repairRemoval of malignant tumors and lesion (and non-cancerous growths like lipomas)Where did Kate undergo abdominal surgery?Kate received abdominal surgery at The London Clinic, the largest independent, private hospital in the U.K., according to PEOPLE. It was opened by Queen Elizabeth II’s parents – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother – in 1932. The hospital is currently equipped to treat 155 different conditions and has over 1,000 nursing, clinical, and support staff.Kate isn’t the first member of the royal family to receive care at the hospital. Like the Princess of Wales, the late Prince Philip also had abdominal surgery there in 2013, per PEOPLE. The late Princess Margaret (Queen Elizabeth’s sister) had skin lesions removed there in 1980, and in 1960, the Duke of Windsor (Queen Elizabeth’s uncle) underwent an eye operation, the publication reported.Here’s a timeline of her surgery, recovery, and every health update so far.Jan. 17, 2024: The news of Kate’s abdominal surgery was first announced. Kensington Palace shared an official statement on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Instagram account that read: “Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to hospital yesterday for planned abdominal surgery. The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days, before returning home to continue her recovery. Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.””The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate,” the statement continued. “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.” Kensington Palace also noted that it “will only provide updates on Her Royal Highness’ progress when there is significant new information to share.”Jan. 29: Princess Kate is released from the hospital.On Jan. 29, Kensington Palace announced that Kate was back home and “making good progress” in her surgery recovery after a two-week hospital stay.”The Princess of Wales has returned home to Windsor to continue her recovery from surgery. She is making good progress,” Kensington Palace shared on Instagram. The Prince and Princess of Wales also wished “a huge thank you to the entire team at the London Clinic, especially the dedicated nursing staff” in the statement. The Wales family also said they were “grateful for the well wishes they have received from around the world.”After the news of Kate’s health situation was initially shared on social media back in January, the comments section of the post were flooded with well-wishes, as well as questions about what “abdominal surgery” means. March 4: Kate is photographed riding in a car with her mother.Kate was seen in public for the first time since Christmas, riding in the passenger seat of a car driven by her mother, Carole Middleton, per People. However, that picture has been questioned on social media, with people claiming that it’s been edited, or that the person in the car is actually Kate’s sister.March 10: Kensington Palace releases a photo of Kate and her children for Mother’s Day.Kensington Palace released an IG photo the day before of Kate and her three children, which was taken last week at Windsor, per People. In her first public post since undergoing surgery earlier this year, Kate thanked fans for their “kind wishes and continued support over the last two months.””Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day,” she added. Kate’s husband, Prince William, is listed as the photographer on the image.The snap set the internet ablaze, with commenters pointing out what appeared to be editing fails on Princess Charlotte’s left hand and Prince Louis’ shoulders, along with other inconsistencies. The picture was distributed internationally, before agencies like the Associated Press and Reuters removed it from their websites on claims that the photo was edited, according to Business Insider. March 11: Kate apologizes for editing that family photo.Kate issued an apology on March 11 to address “confusion” over the photo of herself with her kids.”Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,” she said in a statement released on X (formerly Twitter). “I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day.”The post was signed “C” for Catherine, which is Kate’s first name.Releasing the apology has reportedly infuriated Kate, with friends telling The Daily Beast that she and William plan to fire staffers responsible for the photo mess-up once the public has moved on. March 11: Kate is photographed riding in a car with Prince William.On the same day she apologized, Kate was photographed riding in a car with Prince William while leaving Windsor, although her face was obscured. Goff Photos, the agency that took the picture, said in a statement to Today on March 12 that the snap was “cropped and lightened” but that “nothing has been doctored.”Photographer Jim Bennett, who took the picture, shared that car shots are “unpredictable at the best of times… and with some reflection on the glass it can be difficult,” per People.Bennett said he was expecting to snap a picture of William, but it wasn’t until he looked at the frame that he realized Kate was in the car, too. March 14: William mentions Kate during an event honoring Princess DianaA few days later, William spoke at the Diana Legacy Awards in London and casually slipped Kate’s name into his speech. ” legacy is something that both Catherine and I have sought to focus on through our work, as have the 50,000 young people who have received a Diana Award over the past 25 years,” he said. The future king didn’t say anything else about Kate. She is not expected to make a public appearance until after Easter, per Kensington Palace.
It’s been months since Princess Kate of Wales has made a public appearance, and rumors continue to swirl about her wellbeing.
Video above: Why the Princess of Wales is on guard over health issues
Most recently, Kate has reportedly been dealing with “intense stress.”
Among the issues Kate is facing, per the outlet: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have stepped back from the royal family, she’s undergone abdominal surgery, and chaos ensued when Kensington Palace released a Photoshopped picture of the princess and her kids. In addition to errors in the photo, royal watchers pointed out that Kate wasn’t wearing her wedding ring.
The official word from the palace is that the 42-year-old is “doing well” after having planned abdominal surgery.
“Kensington Palace made it clear in January the timelines of the Princess’ recovery and we’d only be providing significant updates,” a spokesperson said in February. “That guidance stands.”
But the story has only gotten bigger ever since Kate shared that her U.K. Mother’s Day photo had been edited.
Here’s everything we know about Kate’s abdominal surgery and the diagnosis behind it, plus all of the health updates we’ve heard so far.
What is abdominal surgery?
Abdominal surgery is a broad term used to describe a surgical procedure that involves opening the abdominal cavity, according to The University of Tennessee Medical Center. It usually involves treating diseases, conditions, or injuries to the stomach and bowels, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, bile ducts, or surrounding soft tissues, the organization says.
The way the surgery is completed depends on the procedure someone is having done. Some medical conditions require more intensive surgeries, while others can be done via laparoscopic surgery, which is a surgical technique where short, narrow tubes are inserted into the abdomen through small incisions, per Medline Plus.
Recovery time can vary for abdominal surgery, depending on the type of surgery someone has and why it was done. With laparoscopic surgery, you can usually go back to work after three days, Cleveland Clinic says. However, recovery from more invasive surgeries may take longer.
What is Kate’s diagnosis?
Kensington Palace have not specified a diagnosis or reason behind Kate’s surgery. Palace officials noted that she wants to keep this information private, so the public will likely never know.
However, PEOPLE noted that the issue is “non-cancerous,” and according to Kensington Palace’s official statement, the surgery was “planned” and “successful.”
That said, the Princess of Wales “situation came as a surprise even to those who work closely with the royal family” and that “within their broader circle of family friends, there had been no indication that anything was wrong,” PEOPLE reported.
What are common reasons for abdominal surgery?
There are a lot of potential reasons someone might undergo abdominal surgery, including the repair or removal of different tissues and organs in the abdominal area, per The University of Tennessee Medical Center.
Common reasons for abdominal surgeries include:
- Removal of the appendix (aka an appendectomy)
- Gall bladder removal surgery
- Hernia repair
- Removal of malignant tumors and lesion (and non-cancerous growths like lipomas)
Where did Kate undergo abdominal surgery?
Kate received abdominal surgery at The London Clinic, the largest independent, private hospital in the U.K., according to PEOPLE. It was opened by Queen Elizabeth II’s parents – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother – in 1932. The hospital is currently equipped to treat 155 different conditions and has over 1,000 nursing, clinical, and support staff.
Kate isn’t the first member of the royal family to receive care at the hospital. Like the Princess of Wales, the late Prince Philip also had abdominal surgery there in 2013, per PEOPLE. The late Princess Margaret (Queen Elizabeth’s sister) had skin lesions removed there in 1980, and in 1960, the Duke of Windsor (Queen Elizabeth’s uncle) underwent an eye operation, the publication reported.
Here’s a timeline of her surgery, recovery, and every health update so far.
Jan. 17, 2024: The news of Kate’s abdominal surgery was first announced.
Kensington Palace shared an official statement on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Instagram account that read: “Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to hospital yesterday for planned abdominal surgery. The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days, before returning home to continue her recovery. Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.”
“The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate,” the statement continued. “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.” Kensington Palace also noted that it “will only provide updates on Her Royal Highness’ progress when there is significant new information to share.”
Jan. 29: Princess Kate is released from the hospital.
On Jan. 29, Kensington Palace announced that Kate was back home and “making good progress” in her surgery recovery after a two-week hospital stay.
“The Princess of Wales has returned home to Windsor to continue her recovery from surgery. She is making good progress,” Kensington Palace shared on Instagram. The Prince and Princess of Wales also wished “a huge thank you to the entire team at the London Clinic, especially the dedicated nursing staff” in the statement.
The Wales family also said they were “grateful for the well wishes they have received from around the world.”
After the news of Kate’s health situation was initially shared on social media back in January, the comments section of the post were flooded with well-wishes, as well as questions about what “abdominal surgery” means.
March 4: Kate is photographed riding in a car with her mother.
Kate was seen in public for the first time since Christmas, riding in the passenger seat of a car driven by her mother, Carole Middleton, per People.
However, that picture has been questioned on social media, with people claiming that it’s been edited, or that the person in the car is actually Kate’s sister.
March 10: Kensington Palace releases a photo of Kate and her children for Mother’s Day.
Kensington Palace released an IG photo the day before of Kate and her three children, which was taken last week at Windsor, per People. In her first public post since undergoing surgery earlier this year, Kate thanked fans for their “kind wishes and continued support over the last two months.”
“Wishing everyone a Happy Mother’s Day,” she added. Kate’s husband, Prince William, is listed as the photographer on the image.
The snap set the internet ablaze, with commenters pointing out what appeared to be editing fails on Princess Charlotte’s left hand and Prince Louis’ shoulders, along with other inconsistencies. The picture was distributed internationally, before agencies like the Associated Press and Reuters removed it from their websites on claims that the photo was edited, according to Business Insider.
March 11: Kate apologizes for editing that family photo.
Kate issued an apology on March 11 to address “confusion” over the photo of herself with her kids.
“Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing,” she said in a statement released on X (formerly Twitter). “I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day.”
The post was signed “C” for Catherine, which is Kate’s first name.
Releasing the apology has reportedly infuriated Kate, with friends telling The Daily Beast that she and William plan to fire staffers responsible for the photo mess-up once the public has moved on.
March 11: Kate is photographed riding in a car with Prince William.
On the same day she apologized, Kate was photographed riding in a car with Prince William while leaving Windsor, although her face was obscured.
Goff Photos, the agency that took the picture, said in a statement to Today on March 12 that the snap was “cropped and lightened” but that “nothing has been doctored.”
Photographer Jim Bennett, who took the picture, shared that car shots are “unpredictable at the best of times… and with some reflection on the glass it can be difficult,” per People.
Bennett said he was expecting to snap a picture of William, but it wasn’t until he looked at the frame that he realized Kate was in the car, too.
March 14: William mentions Kate during an event honoring Princess Diana
A few days later, William spoke at the Diana Legacy Awards in London and casually slipped Kate’s name into his speech. “[Princess Diana’s] legacy is something that both Catherine and I have sought to focus on through our work, as have the 50,000 young people who have received a Diana Award over the past 25 years,” he said.
The future king didn’t say anything else about Kate. She is not expected to make a public appearance until after Easter, per Kensington Palace.
