BREAKING: Princess Catherine in the Hospital for Abdominal Surgery
Kensington Palace releases statement on Kate’s surgery
Hello Dear Readers.
This morning, just 30 minutes ago, Kensington Palace released a statement on the Princess of Wales’s health. We don’t know much. What we do know:
Yesterday, Catherine was admitted to the hospital for a planned abdominal surgery.
The surgery was successful and she will continue her recovery in the hospital for the next 10-14 days before being discharged to her home.
Medical advice the Princess received says she should not return to medical duty until after Easter, which is March 31, 2024.
Readers, I won’t sugarcoat it. This is very concerning. These details wouldn’t have been shared if they felt they weren’t necessary. Though surgery was successful, recuperation in a hospital after surgery for two weeks means there are some things that are touch and go. It could be down to her being a future Queen and therefore everyone is just being extra cautious. It’s the wording of the statement, wanting to maintain as much normalcy as possible for children and only sharing significant updates scare me.
I hope whatever is wrong is addressed. And I deeply wish that the media heeds her ask and respects her wishes for privacy. When she was admitted to the hospital for Hyperemesis Gravidarum, a form of severe morning sickness, she was pregnant with Prince George. Jacintha Saldanha, a night sister at the King Edward VII hospital, in London, took a call she believed was from the Royal family. In actuality, it was prank call by two Australian radio DJs pretending to be Queen Elizabeth and then Prince Charles.
She transferred the hoax call to a colleague who was treating the Princess and the conversation that the two DJs, Mel Greig and Mike Christian, subsequently had with the second nurse about the duchess’s medical condition was broadcast by the station. Saldanha was so distraught that three days later, she hanged herself. Prince William and Catherine were said to have extremely distraught by this and reached out to her family to give their condolences. Privately, William was said to have pushed for an inquest at the radio station. Saldanha’s two children have publicly said that the Prince and Princess of Wales reach out every now and then to see how they are doing.
I hope Catherine is allowed to heal on her own time. There were rumblings asking where she’s been this year and now we have our answer: She’s been sick preparing for a surgery. I don’t want to speculate but whatever she’s going through sounds extremely serious. And I hope this will teach people to not make assumptions about absences.
Kensington Palace is providing updates to the press about Prince William’s schedule. He’s going to postpone a number of engagements as he supports his family, and won’t undertake official duties while his wife is in hospital. He’ll also have no official duties during the immediate period following Kate’s return home. Royal reporters are being told it’s not cancer related, which is understandable guidance, as the length of the hospital stay will generate more serious speculation.
My thoughts are with Catherine, William and their children during this challenging time.
-Lady Sinclair