Queen Camilla paid a second visit to King Charles in hospital this evening following his successful prostate surgery.
Charles, 75, was said to be doing well after the operation – and despite rescheduling his appointments, he was even prepared to complete the paperwork from his bed at the London Clinic.
Camilla's car was seen driving to the back entrance of the private hospital in Marylebone at 6.34pm and she left the hospital in the back seat just before 8pm.
The Queen insisted on being at her husband's side, having previously accompanied him to his procedure at around 9am, after they were driven together from Clarence House in a low-profile convoy without a police outrider.
Before his own treatment for the benign condition, Charles visited his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, who is recovering from abdominal surgery in the same hospital.
At around 3pm, Camilla had given royal fans and reporters a positive update, telling them: “He's fine, thank you” as she left the clinic. It is not confirmed how long Charles will remain in hospital.
TODAY 8PM – Queen Camilla was seen visiting King Charles in hospital for the second time today following his successful prostate surgery
TODAY 3 PM – The Queen arrived with the King for his appointment for the first time at around 9 a.m. today. She was in a good mood when she left later (pictured)
TODAY 8:00 p.m.: Queen Camilla leaves the London Clinic in central London, where King Charles is being treated
Camilla accompanied Charles in what some saw as an unusual step as the late Queen and Prince Philip usually went to the hospital alone.
Viewers shouted “We love you very much” to Camilla after she left her husband's bed. No further updates are expected from Buckingham Palace this afternoon.
Earlier today, a palace spokesman said shortly after 9.30am: “The King was admitted to a London hospital this morning for planned treatment.”
“His Majesty would like to thank everyone who has sent their well wishes over the past week and is pleased to learn that his diagnosis is having a positive impact on public health awareness.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wished the king “the very best” for his treatment and a “speedy recovery” afterwards, a Downing Street spokeswoman told reporters.
The court circular states that Charles hosted Dame Polly Courtice, emeritus director of the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, and Professor Robert Miller, director of the Whittle Laboratory, at Sandringham yesterday.
Charles was photographed arriving at the London clinic at around 9am this morning, minutes after leaving Clarence House.
TODAY 3 PM – Queen Camilla leaves the London Clinic today, where the King is being treated
TODAY 3PM – Queen Camilla smiles as she leaves the London Clinic this afternoon
TODAY 3 PM – Queen Camilla leaves the London Clinic today, where the King is being treated
TODAY 3PM – Queen Camilla smiles as she leaves the London Clinic this afternoon
TODAY 9.30AM – A statement from Buckingham Palace regarding the admission of Charles to hospital
He arrived at his London residence yesterday after returning by helicopter from the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
The king had been resting at Sandringham since last Friday after flying back there with Camilla from Birkhall, his private home near Balmoral in Aberdeenshire.
The Princess of Wales remains in the London clinic after abdominal surgery.
Kate is not expected to attend any official engagements until Easter.
In a double scare, Buckingham Palace announced the news of the royal's health on Wednesday last week, 90 minutes after Kensington Palace said Kate was in hospital.
Camilla is said to have told “workaholic” Charles to “slow down” after he had a year full of engagements – a tally suggests he made 516 over the course of 2023.
She also reassured the public that he was in good health, saying during a trip to Swindon on Monday that the royal was “doing well”.
Additionally, Camilla said he was “doing well” and looking forward to getting back to work as he visited an art gallery in Aberdeen last Thursday.
On Sunday, Charles' former sister-in-law Sarah, Duchess of York, was diagnosed with skin cancer.
TODAY 9 AM – King Charles III. arrives at the London clinic this morning for his treatment
TODAY 9AM – Queen Camilla (centre) is also seen arriving at the London clinic this morning
While at Birkhall last week, sources said Charles was in “really good spirits” and in “good shape”.
What is benign prostate enlargement?
Benign prostate enlargement is a common condition in men over 50 and can affect urine output.
This causes the prostate, a small gland in the pelvis that is part of the male reproductive system, to enlarge. Exactly how enlargement occurs is unknown, but doctors believe it is related to hormonal changes in men as they age.
It is called “benign prostate enlargement” to distinguish it from prostate cancer, a malignant disease that requires urgent treatment.
While many men do not experience problems due to an enlarged prostate, others may require medical intervention if it causes pressure on the bladder or urethra. There is also a risk of a urinary tract infection.
Sometimes it can be treated with lifestyle changes or medication; However, surgery may also be performed to remove part of the prostate or to reduce the size of the gland.
Source: NHS
Buckingham Palace said in a statement last Wednesday: “Like thousands of men every year, the King is seeking treatment for an enlarged prostate.”
“His Majesty's condition is benign and he will be hospitalized next week for corrective surgery. “The King's public appearances will be postponed for a short recovery period.”
It is understood Charles was keen to share the details of his diagnosis to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get checked in line with public health advice.
The King was diagnosed last Wednesday after experiencing symptoms and undergoing a checkup earlier this week.
He had a series of meetings and events planned at Dumfries House in East Ayrshire last Thursday and Friday, which were postponed on the advice of his doctor.
Charles is known as a workaholic, skipping lunch and often staying at his desk late into the night and into the early hours of the morning, busying himself with his correspondence and official papers. Overall, he enjoys good health and keeps fit through walks and gardening.
The 75-year-old monarch came to the throne just 16 months ago after spending 70 years as heir apparent. He was crowned at Westminster Abbey last May.
One in three men over 50 suffer from symptoms of an enlarged prostate. These include more frequent trips to the toilet, an increased urge to urinate and difficulty emptying the bladder.
An enlarged prostate, also called benign prostatic hyperplasia, usually does not pose a serious health threat and is not cancer.
8.30AM TODAY – King Charles is seen leaving Clarence House in London this morning
TODAY 8.30AM – The King will be evicted from his residence at Clarence House in London today
However, patients may need to undergo several tests for the disease to rule out the possibility that they have another disease with similar symptoms, such as prostate cancer.
Surgery is usually only recommended for moderate to severe symptoms that do not respond to medication, the NHS website says.
Treatment may include a number of procedures, including removal of part of the prostate with a laser, water ablation, which uses the pressure of water to destroy prostate tissue, or urethral lift implants, which remove the enlarged prostate from the urethra keep away so that it does not get blocked into the urethra.
Other options include prostate embolization, in which tiny plastic particles are injected into the blood vessels to shrink the prostate and thus reduce its blood supply.
According to NHS England, the 'enlarged prostate' page on the NHS website was visited once every five seconds on the day the royal's diagnosis was announced, and there was another huge increase in visits in the following days.