Palace issues Princess Catherine health update as Prince William abruptly withdraws from royal engagement

Feb 28, 2024
While the Palace has not linked Prince William's absence directly to his wife's health, speculation is rife, and the public is left wondering about the well-being of the royal couple. Source: Getty Images.

Kensington Palace has released a new health update on Princess Catherine, just as her husband, Prince William, abruptly withdrew from a scheduled royal engagement.

The sudden change in plans sparked concerns and speculation among the public regarding Catherine’s well-being.

A palace aide addressed the concerns during an event at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, February 27, providing a brief but reassuring update on the Princess of Wales.

“The Princess of Wales continues to be doing well,” the aide stated, offering a glimpse into the current state of her health.

The Princess’ health woes were initially revealed to the public when Kensington Palace announced her admission to the private London Clinic on Tuesday, January 16 for abdominal surgery.

“Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to hospital yesterday for planned abdominal surgery. 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. Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter,” the statement read at the time.

“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.

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

Despite the statement, the nature of Princess Catherine’s hospitalisation has been shrouded in secrecy, leaving the public to speculate and express concern for her well-being.

Adding to the intrigue, Prince William’s unexpected withdrawal from a royal engagement further fueled speculations. The Prince was slated to deliver a reading at a memorial service for Greece’s King Constantine II, who was not only his godfather but also a close friend of his father, King Charles III.

Prince William’s absence, attributed to a “personal matter”, led him to personally apologise to the Greek royal family ahead of the event.

King Charles was also absent from the service as he continues his treatment for cancer.

While the Palace has not linked Prince William’s absence directly to his wife’s health, speculation is rife, and the public is left wondering about the well-being of the royal couple.

The unexpected turn of events has added a layer of intrigue to an already delicate situation, leaving well-wishers anxiously awaiting further updates on the health of Princess Catherine and any developments in the Royal Family.