Queen Camilla beamed as she visited King Charles on his second day in hospital following successful prostate surgery on Friday.
The Queen appeared to share a joke with her driver and bodyguard as they grinned in the Audi next to her as she arrived at the London Clinic at midday.
King Charles is currently spending his second day in hospital following his successful prostate surgery on Friday.
Wearing a white blouse and forest green vest, Camilla, 76, appeared relaxed and grinned as the car approached the private hospital in the heart of the capital.
Charles, 75, was said to be doing well after the operation – and despite postponing his engagements, he was even prepared to complete the paperwork from his bed.
The Queen insisted on being at her husband's side, having already accompanied him to his procedure at around 9am on Friday after they were driven together from Clarence House in a low-profile convoy without a police outrider.
Wearing a white blouse and forest green vest, she looked relaxed and grinned as the car approached the private hospital in the heart of the capital
Queen Camilla beamed as she was driven to hospital where King Charles is recovering today
The Queen appeared to be sharing a joke with her driver and bodyguard as they grinned in the Audi next to her
The queen insisted on being at her husband's side as she repeatedly drove by to check on him
SATURDAY: Police officers stand outside the London Clinic where Charles is being treated
SATURDAY: Police guard the London Clinic private hospital in London where Charles stayed overnight
SATURDAY: Two police officers walk past two other colleagues guarding the door of the London Clinic as Charles spends his second day in the private hospital
At around 3pm, Camilla gave royal fans and reporters a positive update, telling them “he's fine, thank you” as she left the clinic.
Her car was later seen driving to the rear entrance of the private hospital in Marylebone at 6.34pm and leaving the hospital in the back seat just before 8pm.
It is not confirmed how long Charles will remain in hospital, but it is hoped he can be discharged by the end of the weekend.
Before his own treatment for the benign condition, Charles visited his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, who has so far spent 12 days in the same hospital recovering from abdominal surgery.
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.
A palace spokesman said shortly after 9.30am on Friday: “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.”
FRIDAY 3:00 PM: The Queen arrived with the King for his appointment for the first time on Friday around 9:00 AM. She was in a good mood when she left later (pictured)
FRIDAY 8pm: Queen Camilla has been seen visiting King Charles in hospital for the second time following his successful prostate surgery
FRIDAY 3:00 p.m.: Queen Camilla leaves the London clinic where the King is being treated
FRIDAY 3PM: Queen Camilla smiles as she leaves the London Clinic on Friday afternoon
FRIDAY 3PM: Queen Camilla leaves the London Clinic on Friday afternoon
FRIDAY 8pm: Queen Camilla leaves the London Clinic in central London, where King Charles is being treated
Friday, 9:30 a.m.: A statement from Buckingham Palace regarding Charles's admission to hospital
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 said 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 on Thursday.
Charles was photographed arriving at the London clinic at around 9am on Friday, minutes after leaving Clarence House.
He arrived at his London residence on Thursday 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.
8.30 AM FRIDAY: King Charles is pictured leaving Clarence House in London on Friday
FRIDAY 9 AM: King Charles III. arrives at the London clinic on Friday morning for his treatment
FRIDAY 9AM: Queen Camilla (centre) is seen arriving at the London Clinic on Friday morning
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”.
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
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.
While at Birkhall last week, sources said Charles was in “really good spirits” and in “good shape”.
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.
8.30 AM FRIDAY: The King is evicted from his residence at Clarence House in London
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.