Kate Middleton in hospital recovering from 'planned surgery' as she postpones upcoming engagements in new statement

Kate Middleton is currently in hospital recovering from “planned surgery” and has postponed all of her public engagements for several months.

The Princess of Wales will not be returning to public engagements for 2024 for several more months after undergoing “surgery” this week. Taking to social media on 17th January, Kensington Palace shared a statement revealing that the surgery had been both “planned” and “successful”. The Palace also explained that the future Queen will be remaining in hospital recovering for several more days before returning home to continue her recovery there.

What surgery has Kate Middleton had? 

The Princess of Wales underwent “abdominal surgery” on 16th January that was “planned” and it’s not known exactly what kind of surgery this was, though the BBC has reported that the Palace said it was "not cancer-related". Given that Kensington Palace revealed it is Kate’s “wish” that her “personal medical information” stays private, it’s unlikely the specific surgery will ever be disclosed.

"Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to The London Clinic yesterday for planned abdominal surgery,” the statement declared. “The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for ten to fourteen days, before returning home to continue her recovery.”

Kensington Palace also addressed the “interest” that they’re aware the statement will have sparked, but expressed Kate’s desire for privacy and “normality” for herself and her family as she continues to recover.

The statement continued, “The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private. Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness’ progress when there is significant new information to share.”

It’s expected that the Princess of Wales will recover at her and Prince William’s Adelaide Cottage home in Windsor after leaving hospital in London in “ten to fourteen days” time.

When will Kate Middleton return to public engagements? 

Kensington Palace’s statement comes just eight days after the Princess of Wales’s 42nd birthday and she was last glimpsed in public on Christmas Day walking to church with the rest of the Royal Family. Whilst it’s not been completely confirmed how long it will be before Kate resumes royal duties in 2024, the Palace did disclose that “based on the current medical advice” Her Highness is “unlikely” to return to her public duties “until after Easter”.

This year the Easter Weekend is the final weekend of March (Friday 29th-Monday 1st April). In light of this particular remark from Kensington Palace, it seems likely that the Princess of Wales won’t return to public engagements until April at this point. 

This means that fans won’t be seeing Kate at several big events she usually attends early on in the year, including the BAFTAs in February, marking St David’s Day publicly on 1st March or attending the Commonwealth Day service on 11th March, as well as the Easter Sunday service.

According to the BBC, Prince William will reportedly not be carrying out any official duties whilst the Princess is in hospital.  The statement did indicate, though, that the future Queen is already excited about adding public engagements back into her diary, when it aligns with medical advice and her recovery.

“The Princess of Wales wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements,” the statement concluded. “She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible.”