- Kate Middleton was admitted to hospital yesterday for the planned procedure
- The reason for the surgery has not been disclosed, but it is not believed to be cancerous
The Princess of Wales will spend up to two weeks in hospital following successful abdominal surgery, it was revealed today.
Kate Middleton, 42, was admitted to a London hospital yesterday for planned surgery and is expected to remain there for 10 to 14 days.
The future queen will return to Windsor to continue her recovery.
The reason for the procedure has not been disclosed, but it is believed to be non-cancerous.
Here Web describes her medical history.
Kate Middleton, 42, was admitted to a London hospital yesterday for planned surgery and is expected to remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days. Pictured: Kate arrives at the royal carol concert at Westminster Abbey on December 8 last year
Kensington Palace announced today that the Princess of Wales has undergone abdominal surgery
Three inch scar on head
Kate has a three-inch scar on the left side of her head from her childhood.
It was first spotted in 2011 when the princess made her first solo royal engagement at an elegant private dinner at Clarence House.
It was confirmed to be the result of an operation she had had as a young child.
An official statement explained that “the scar is related to childhood surgery” but said details of the surgery were a private matter.
Royal sources confirmed it was a “very serious operation” but declined to comment further.
However, surgeons at the time said the scar was unlikely to be due to a tumor and may have been caused by the removal of a birthmark.
Kate's scar was first discovered in 2011 when she attended a dinner at Clarence House
A statement explained that the normally hidden scar was from childhood surgery
Morning sickness
The princess was hospitalized with severe morning sickness for three days in 2012 while pregnant with Prince George.
She was admitted to King Edward VII's Hospital – a private hospital in Marylebone that has been used by the royal family for more than a century.
Kate suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) again while pregnant with Princess Charlotte in 2014 and Prince Louis in 2018.
The condition led to the princess giving early notice of her later two pregnancies, before they reached the crucial 12-week stage.
However, while she was carrying Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, she was cared for at Kensington Palace and not the hospital.
HG can cause severe dehydration and puts the mother and baby at risk of being deprived of important nutrients because they are unable to keep down food and drink.
Those affected have to vomit up to 30 times a day – with strenuous and dangerous consequences.
Kate revealed in 2020 that she used meditation and deep breathing to control her symptoms.
Abdominal surgery
The princess had planned abdominal surgery and will spend up to two weeks in hospital, royal advisers announced today.
Kate was admitted to the London Clinic in Marylebone yesterday for the planned procedure and is expected to remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days.
She will then return home to Windsor to continue her recovery with the support of her family, Kensington Palace said.
It is not believed to be cancerous, but no further details of the surgery have been revealed.
The princess is expected to have a recovery period of two to three months.
The NHS recommends deep breathing, circulation, core and chair exercises and standing exercises to recover from abdominal surgery.
Kate's return to official duties will depend on medical advice at a later date, but she is not expected to return to public events before Easter.
Police officers stand outside the London Clinic today, where Kate is staying after surgery