King Charles III, 75, will be hospitalized next week for a benign enlarged prostate, Buckingham Palace said on Wednesday.
• Also read: Kate Middleton was hospitalized for abdominal surgery
“Like thousands of men every year, the king was consulted about an enlarged prostate. “His Majesty's condition is benign and he will go to the hospital next week for corrective surgery,” the palace said in a brief statement.
“The King’s public appearances are postponed for a short recovery period,” the text says.
This is the first time the palace has spoken publicly about the ruler's health since his accession to the throne on September 8, 2022, following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II.
Prostatic hypertrophy is a very common condition in men of a certain age and, if left untreated, can lead to progressive deterioration of bladder function and urinary tract infections.
This announcement comes as Princess Kate, wife of Charles' eldest son, Prince William, remains hospitalized in London for at least ten days following a successful abdominal operation that forced her to suspend her commitments until the end of March.