Why King Charles Disclosed His Diagnosis While Kate Middleton Chose to Keep Hers Private (Exclusive)

Updates on the health of Kate Middleton and King Charles came within hours of each other, but with some big differences.

Within two hours of Kensington Palace announcing Princess Kate’s “planned abdominal surgery” on January 17, Buckingham Palace announced the king would undergo surgery for an enlarged prostate – news he revealed to inspire other men to consult their doctors . A corrective action for benign condition is scheduled for this week, leading to a temporary postponement of his public engagements.

While news of Kate’s health was only revealed after her surgery, Charles’ announcement came ahead of the planned procedure.

“It made sense to be more open about it, because otherwise people might think the worst,” a palace insider told PEOPLE exclusively in this week’s issue.

King Charles during the recording of his Christmas message at Buckingham Palace on December 7, 2023 in London; Kate Middleton in Great Abaco, Bahamas in March 2022.

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As a monarch, Charles’s state of health is of great importance. And his decision to highlight his diagnosis has already had an impact: his announcement last week prompted a 1,000% increase in prostate enlargement searches on the UK’s National Health Service website.

Queen Camilla shares update on King Charles’ health after news of prostate treatment

While King Charles has opted for transparency about his diagnosis, Princess Kate, 42, has opted for discretion, expressing her “desire to maintain as much normality as possible” for her young children Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis ( 5). according to her office.

King Charles visits St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate on January 7.

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Although Princess Kate’s planned abdominal surgery has been deemed a success, with a royal source saying she is “doing well”, her 10-14 day hospital stay and expected three-month recovery at home have raised concerns. The palace did not disclose the nature of her condition, but said it was not cancerous.

“The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. She hopes the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normalcy as possible for her children; and her desire to keep her personal medical information private,” the palace said in a statement.

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Those close to the Prince and Princess of Wales say family life is a priority for the couple. Public engagements and trips planned around their three children – Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5 – and their school holidays. The current situation is no different.

Princess Charlotte, Prince William, Prince George, Mia Tindall, Prince Louis at church on Christmas Day at Sandringham, December 25, 2023.

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Prince William, 41, has cleared his calendar to be with Princess Kate and support their family (he was pictured driving from hospital after a visit on January 18) and is not expected to resume public duties until days after she returns home. He will take care of the children together with the long-time nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo and help with picking them up and taking them to school.

“We know they’re a very tight family unit and he wants to be there for them,” says Hardman, the book’s author The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy. “A lot of what they do with these kids is about normalizing life and making sure they don’t feel like they’re in a special gilded cage.”

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Source: HIS Education