Royal news: Kate’s surgery ‘surprised’ friends as King Charles arrives in London

Prince Harry has proven once again he’s Meghan Markle’s biggest fan.

The Duke of Sussex, 39, attended the Living Legends of Aviation Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on 19 January. The royal was being recognised for his work as a British Army veteran and pilot, and cracked a joke about his father King Charles III during his speech.

Among those in attendance included director Matthew Cole Weiss, who had previously directed the 2006 TV movie Deceit, in which Meghan appears in one scene. Taking to social media, Weiss recalled his encounter with Harry and revealed that the father of two has watched his wife’s small role in the film.

King Charles, 75, was seen being driven near Buckingham Palace after travelling from Sandringham in Norfolk on Thursday afternoon, The Sun reported.

The monarch has cancelled a number of engagements as he prepares to undergo a corrective procedure this week. Buckingham Palace confirmed the union flag above monarchy HQ had been replaced with a Royal Standard, signalling the King was in residence.

The King often stays in nearby Clarence House – his preferred London home.

Charles was diagnosed with the benign condition on January 17 while staying at Birkhall in Scotland, after going for a check-up because he was experiencing symptoms.

The Princess of Wales’ surgery reportedly “came as a surprise” to those close to the royal family as she continues her stay in hospital.

According to PEOPLE magazine, the news of Kate’s hospitalisation came as a surprise to family friends and even those who work closely with the royals, with “no indication that anything was wrong”.

Kate was admitted to the London Clinic last Tuesday ahead of planned abdominal surgery and is expected to remain there for between ten to 14 days as she recovers.

The 42-year-old princess is said to be “doing well” but is not set to return to official duties until after Easter.

She described him as a “very good and kind man” and gushingly described their wedding day on July 23 1986 as “extraordinary” and an “exceptional day”.

Andrew for his part, rushed to be at Fergie’s side following her treatment for breast cancer last summer at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, Berkshire, where they live together.

They share two daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, but suffered a difficult romance that was often stymied by Andrew’s Royal Navy service that meant he was away for long periods of times.

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The King has arrived back in London ahead of treatment for an enlarged prostate.

Charles, 75, was seen being driven near Buckingham Palace after travelling from Sandringham in Norfolk on Thursday afternoon, The Sun reported.

The monarch has cancelled a number of engagements as he prepares to undergo a corrective procedure this week.

Buckingham Palace confirmed the union flag above monarchy HQ had been replaced with a Royal Standard, signalling the King was in residence.

The King often stays in nearby Clarence House – his preferred London home.

The Princess of Wales may currently be recovering from abdominal surgery, but that isn’t stopping her from working from her hospital bed. The claim, reported in The Times this week, was met with both praise and concern. Some lauded Kate’s apparently relentless work ethic. Others suggested it set an unhealthy precedent. Wherever you stand on the matter, it typifies a wider trend: a social tendency to work through illness… even at its most severe.

For some, the reluctance to call in sick is a result of ambient workplace pressure: an unspoken rule, disseminated through disapproving glances and examples set by colleagues. For others it’s out of necessity, a response to work insecurity and a lack of sick pay. But for many of us it is entirely self-imposed, tied to the glorification of hustle culture and a widespread “suck it up” mentality enforced by neoliberalist attitudes to work. It has transformed “the sick day” into a luxury rather than a necessity, particularly in the UK.

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A second cancer diagnosis could have left the Duchess of York reeling, but those closest to her tell Anna Tyzak that while ‘she’s the biggest softie you’ll ever meet, when it comes to her own life, she’s as tough as old boots’ – and that includes standing by those who have abandoned her

Iam 64 and just getting started,” wrote Sarah, Duchess of York, to her social media followers on New Year’s Day. Her words captioned a photograph of her swathed in emerald silk and resting on her bed – defiant and understandably so given the highs and lows of 2023.

The year when she not only was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer (her reconstructed left breast is affectionately named Derek), but also published a second bestselling novel and accompanied the Royal family on their Christmas Day Sandringham walkabout for the first time in nearly 30 years. “I have more stories to tell,” she assured her 680,000 followers.

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Princess Anne held an investiture on Wednesday as the King prepares to undergo treatment for his enlarged prostate.

Public figures including director Sir Stephen Frears and wheelchair rugby coach Tom Coyd were awarded knighthoods and MBEs at the ceremony at Windsor Castle.

With the King due to be treated in hospital this week for an enlarged prostate, and the Prince and Princess of Wales also away from their regular duties after Kate’s abdominal surgery, the Princess Royal conducted Wednesday’s investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.

Sir Stephen, whose film The Queen won Dame Helen Mirren an Oscar for playing Elizabeth II in 2006, put his knighthood down to “just being lucky”.

After collecting his honour for services to film and television on Wednesday, Sir Stephen said: “It is a really nice thing. I have no complaints.

“I have been very, very lucky and you still need an enormous amount of luck. I have been very, very lucky in my choice of material and the people I have worked with.”

Sir Stephen added: “It has been a nice day and now we will go have tea.”

Divorce, debt, tabloid stings and a cancer diagnosis – Sarah Ferguson’s royal ride has been anything but smooth. But she opens up to Guy Walters about happiness, helping people and the things that have helped her through the toughest of times

As ever, it takes a child to ask the most pertinent question, the one that really cuts to the chase. In December 2023, it came from a young boy called Toby at the Holy Trinity Primary School in Burnley.

“How did you feel when you married into the royal family?”

It’s not a question many of us get the chance to ask, but it is perhaps one that Toby’s respondent has answered before.

“Terrified,” she says. “It was very frightening. You need to be really brave. You had to wear what I call your big girl pants.”

The children burst into cackles, because let’s face it, if you need to make a bunch of primary school children laugh, then using the word “pants” is always going to be a winner. Another pertinent question comes from, of all people, the local bishop.

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